Understanding the Phases of the Moon and the Lunar Cycle

The moon goes through eight distinct phases during its 27-day Lunar Cycle, each characterized by its illumination level as seen from Earth. From the invisible New Moon to the fully illuminated Full Moon, learn about each phase and how they occur as the moon orbits the Earth.

• Moon phases
• Lunar Cycle
• Astronomy
• Celestial bodies
• Science

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Uploaded on Sep 19, 2024 | 0 Views

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1. The Lunar Cycle

2. Why does the moon have phases? The revolution of the Moon around the Earth causes the Moon to appear to have phases. The Lunar Cycle is approximately 27 days or 1 month.

3. 8 Moon Phases 1. New Moon 5. Full Moon 2. Waxing Crescent 6. Waning Gibbous 3. First Quarter 7. Last Quarter 4. Waxing Gibbous 8. Waning Crescent

4. New Moon New Moon is not visible from Earth. The moon is between the Sun and the Earth. The dark side is facing us.

5. Waxing Crescent Waxing means that the bright side is increasing. The right side is the bright side. Crescent means that less than half of the moon is illuminated.

6. First Quarter The RIGHT HALF of the moon is illuminated. The illuminated side is increasing.

7. Waxing Gibbous Gibbous means that more than half is visible, but it is not quite full.

8. Full Moon The moon is completely illuminated.

9. Waning Gibbous Waning means that the bright side is decreasing. The left side is the bright side.

10. Last Quarter The LEFT HALF of the moon is illuminated. The illuminated side is decreasing.

11. Waning Crescent Waning means that the bright side is decreasing. The left side is the bright side. Crescent means that less than half of the moon is illuminated.

12. Like the earth, half of the moon is always lighted by the sun. Also like the Earth, half of the moon is completely dark. The moon does not really change. We just see the different phases as it revolves around the Earth.