The Lunar Cycle

By: Doug Hansen & Carmelina Coleman

View From Earth

New Moon

From the earth we cannot see the moon or it is very dark. The moon is between the earth and the sun and therefore the sun cannot illuminate the part of the moon we can see from earth.

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Waxing Crescent

View From Earth

Half Moon

At this point the moon is halfway to the other side of the earth and therefore on Earth we can only see half of the illuminated portion of the moon because only half of it is facing the sun at this point.

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

The moon is starting to move further away from between the sun and the earth. We on earth see more and more of the illuminated surface. It is on its way to a full moon.

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

View From Earth

Waxing Gibbous

View From Earth

Full Moon

The Earth is between the sun and the moon. From earth we can see a full moon, or it is a bright round disk.

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Waning Gibbous

View From Earth

Half Moon

View From Earth

Waning Crescent

Illumination of the moon begins to decrease to less than a half moon. The moon is on its way to being a new moon. The moon is moving away the opposite side of the Earth to be between the Earth and the sun.

View From Earth

Waning Crescent

View From Earth

Waning Crescent

View From Earth

Waning Crescent

View From Earth

Waning Crescent

View From Earth

Waning Crescent