Phases of the Moon


The animation you see below shows how the moon looks to us on Earth in each phase as it orbits around our planet.

The video you see below shows the actual rotation of the moon.  
Notice that it rotates from    to   ,  just like the Earth.
 


Click here to watch another animation.
 

Study the diagram below.


 

Click either of the little pictures of the Earth below to enlarge it.
Then copy and paste it into Paint.
Add the moon phases and label them. 
Copy and paste the moon images in Activity #1 below for the small Earth picture;
get the images from this website for the large Earth picture.
 SMALL                                      LARGE
                                   

                   
 

What are the names of the phases?

When the Moon appears smaller than a quarter, we call it a crescent.

 When the Moon appears larger than a quarter, we call it gibbous.

 When the moon is getting bigger (phases New to Full) it is waxing.

 When it is getting smaller (phases Full to New) it is waning.

For example, if today the Moon were a waxing crescent, then we would only see a little piece of the half of the moon that is reflecting sunlight. But tomorrow, that piece would be bigger. If today the moon were a waning gibbous, then we would see a big piece of the half of the moon that is reflecting sunlight. But tomorrow, that piece would be smaller.

There is an easy way to tell if a crescent moon 
is growing or shrinking. 
 If the crescent moon looks like a "C" (C for Collapsing), it is shrinking.

 Here is another trick to determine if it is the first quarter or the last quarter:  
 Is the Left quarter Lighted?  Then it is the  Last  quarter.

 

  ACTIVITY #1 - Click here to practice labeling the phases of the moon.

 

    ACTIVITY #2 - Look at this diagram again. Can you label the numbered phases?


NUMBER NAME
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

 

  ACTIVITY #1

Label each phase of the moon.   I need help.

Now practice putting these moon phases in order below.

Start with the full moon.
Drag the labels on the left into the correct order on the right.
(Remember the moon revolves counterclockwise!)
 I need help.

JUMBLED ORDER CORRECT ORDER

waxing gibbous

new moon

last quarter

waning crescent

full moon

waxing crescent

waning gibbous

first quarter