Moon

Phases

© Philip Mozel, The Cosmic Classroom

Part

I

Eight Moon Phases

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Fill in Box #1)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the new moon. Since the dark side is facing us, the moon cannot be seen from Earth.

(Write, “No moon can be seen”, in box #1)

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #3)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

This is the first

quarter moon. It is called first quarter because the moon is one quarter of the way around Earth in its orbit beginning from new moon.

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #5)

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

This is the full moon. All of the moon facing Earth is lit by the sun.

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #7)

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

This is the last quarter moon. The moon is now three quarters of the way around Earth.

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

SunlightEarth

The moon has now returned to the new moon position.

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

We will now follow the moon around the Earth again, this time adding the final four phases which fall between the phases we have already seen.

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #2)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is a crescent moon. Since the moon appears to be growing larger from the new moon phase, this is called a waxing crescent.

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

When in this position, the moon is in the first quarter phase . . . .

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #4)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

The moon is in the gibbous phase. Since the moon continues to grow larger, this is the waxing gibbous phase.

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

The moon moves until it reaches the full moon position. It continues moving....

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #6)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is another gibbous moon. But because the moon now appears to be growing smaller, it is called the waning gibbous.

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

The moon moves on to the last quarter position….

View From Earth

View From Above EarthWhat phase of the moon is this?

(Make your drawing in box #8)

SunlightEarth

View From Earth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is another crescent moon. Because the moon still seems to be getting smaller, this is a waning crescent

Part

II

Review/Assessment

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

This is the first quarter

View From Above Earth

SunlightEarth

Part

III

Moon Phases Sequence

Moon Phases Sequence

New Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full Waning Gibbous Last Quarter Waning Crescent

Part

IV

Moon Phase Scramble

Waxing Crescent

Waxing Crescent First Quarter

Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full

Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full Waning Gibbous

Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full Waning Gibbous Last Quarter

Waxing Crescent First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Full Waning Gibbous Last Quarter Waning Crescent

The Moon at Sunset and Sunrise

Part

V

Waxing Crescent

First Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Full

WestEast

North

Moon Phases and Positions at Sunset

WestEast

North

Full

Waning Gibbous

Last Quarter

Waning Crescent

Moon Phases and Positions at Sunrise