Lunar Cycle Goal: Identify the phases of the Moon, and

relate the phases to eclipses.

Memory Devices:

White on the right, growing bright!

White on the left, losing light!

Memory Devices:

Wax on – increasing light! ◦ Just as a candle wick is dipped in wax and the candle wax increases the size of the candle.

Wane off – decreasing light!

Gibbous – bulge

Memory Devices:

New Moon = Near the Sun

Full Moon = Far from Sun

Remember, YOU are on the EARTH looking at the Moon.

New Moon

The new moon phase occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth. When this occurs, there is a possibility of having a solar eclipse. Solar eclipses do not happen each month because the orbit of the Moon is 10o off from the orbit of the Earth.

Waxing Crescent

The Moon revolves around the Earth.

Waxing means to increase in size. This

refers to the lit portion of the Moon. Crescent refers to the shape.

First Quarter

When the Moon has gone one fourth of the way around the Earth, it is called the first quarter. From our point of view, the right half of the Moon is lit.

Waxing Gibbous

The gibbous phase looks like a fat football.

The

word

gibbous

means

bulging.

During the waxing gibbous phase, the lit side of the Moon continues to grow in size.

Full Moon

During the full moon, we see the light reflecting from the entire surface of the Mmoon facing the Earth.

During this phase, it is possible to have a lunar eclipse.

Waning Gibbous

Waxing means to decrease in size. During the waning phase of the Moon, the lit portion decreases in size. The waning gibbous occurs after the full moon.

Third Quarter

The third quarter has the lit side on the left. The Moon is three fourths of the way around its orbit.

Waning Crescent

The waning crescent gets smaller and smaller, until the Moon completes its orbit and begins a new cycle with another new moon.

Solar Eclipse

The Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth. The Moon casts a shadow on the Earth; only occurs with a new moon. This does not occur with every new moon due to the moon being 10o off from the orbit of the Earth.

Lunar Eclipse

The Earth, Sun, and Moon are directly lined up in the center. The Earth casts a shadow on the Moon; only occurs with a full moon. This does not occur with every full moon due to the Moon being

10o off from the orbit of the Earth.

Memory Devices:

White on the right, growing bright!

White on the left, losing light!

Memory Devices:

Wax on – increasing light! ◦ Just as a candle wick is dipped in wax and the candle wax increases the size of the candle.

Wane off – decreasing light!

Gibbous – bulge

Memory Devices:

New Moon = Near the Sun

Full Moon = Far from Sun

Remember, YOU are on the EARTH looking at the Moon.

Review: What phase is this? Be prepared to Justify your answer.

First Quarter

What phase? What phase would be next?

New Moon Waxing Crescent

What phase? What phase would be next?

Waning Gibbous Third Quarter

What phase? What phase would be next?

Full Moon Waning Gibbous

What phase? What phase would be next?

Waxing Crescent First Quarter

What type of eclipse could occur during this phase?

Lunar Eclipse

What phase? What phase would be next?

First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

What phase? What phase would be next?

Waning Crescent New Moon

A View From Outer Space

What is different from our view on Earth?

A View From Outer Space

• Would you still be able

to label the phases

without seeing them?

• This type of question

and graphic is quite

common on

assessments.

Moon Phase Graphic Organizer