The document discusses the phases of the moon and how they relate to the moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun throughout its lunar cycle. It explains that the moon appears differently illuminated as it orbits Earth, going from a new moon to waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and back to a new moon, with waning crescent in between. It also notes that a faint glow called earthshine can sometimes be seen on the dark side of the moon near a new moon phase.

1. The Lunar Cycle


2. Light seen from the moon is reflected sunlight
As moon moves around earth, different parts of it are
illuminated and visible to us
Different shapes of reflected sunlight are called phases

3. Phases of the Moon
New moon – when moon is between sun and earth
and not illuminated (it’s dark)

4. Phases of the Moon
 Waxing – name used when
the lit part of moon is
increasing
 Waxing-crescent phase –
when a sliver of moon
becomes visible

5. Phases of the Moon
First-quarter – when the waxing moon becomes a
half-circle
called “first-quarter” because moon is a quarter of the way
in it’s orbit

6. Phases of the Moon
Waxing – gibbous – when the visible portion of the
moon is larger than a half-circle and is increasing

7. Phases of the Moon
 Full moon – when the moon
appears as a full circle
 Earth is between the moon
and sun

8. Phases of the Moon
Waning – when the lit part of the moon is decreasing
Waning-gibbous – lit part of moon still bigger than
half-circle but shrinking

9. Phases of the Moon
 Last-quarter - when the
waning moon becomes a half-
circle
 called “last-quarter”
because moon is at the last
quarter of the way in it’s
orbit

10. Phases of the Moon
Waning-crescent - when a sliver of moon is all that’s
visible
 moon moves into “new moon” phase after
waning crescent to begin cycle again

11. Earthshine
on either side of a new moon, the darkened part of
moon is slightly visible – “earthshine”

12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79M2lSVZiY4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGTBJHFNywI

14. earthshine

16. Waning-gibbous

18. Waxing-crescent

20. Waning-crescent

22. Last quarter

24. Full moon

25. What does “waning” mean?

26. when the lit part of the moon is decreasing

27. What is earthshine?

28. When the darkened part of the moon is slightly visible