Moon phases and Eclipses

How are the motions and positions of Earth and the Sun connected to what happens on Earth?

Earth's rotation on its axis determines the length of the day.
Earth's orbit around the Sun determines the length of the year.
The tilt of Earth's rotational axis with respect to the plane of Earth's orbit causes the seasons.

How long does it take to complete the full cycle of Moon Phases?

about 30 days. moon cycles inspired the month

Moon phases names

New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
Waning Crescent

How much of the moon is lit by the sun all the time?

Although the Moon is always � lit by the Sun, we see different amounts of the lit portion from Earth depending on where the Moon is located in its orbit.

Waxing moon

waxing = growing
Moon visible in afternoon/evening
Gets "fuller" and rises later each day

Waning moon

waning = shrinking
Moon visible in late night/morning
Gets "less" and sets later each day

During the full Moon phase, how much of the total Moon's surface is being illuminated by sunlight?

one half

Which of the following best describes why the moon goes through phases?

We see only part of the lit-up half of the moon depending on its position relative to the Earth and Sun

Only one side of the Moon sees daylight.
(OR there are no "days" on the Moon)

False! The moon's rotational period and orbital period are the same. That is, it takes the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it does to orbit the earth. (Synchronous Rotation)

Why do we only see one side of the moon?

Synchronous rotation: The Moon rotates exactly once with each orbit around the Earth.
This is why we only see one side of the moon from Earth.

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when one astronomical object passes in front of another.
One object casts its shadow on the other.

What are the two types of eclipses?

Two types:
Lunar: The moon passes through Earth's shadow.
Solar: The moon passes in front of the sun, casting its [Moon's] shadow on Earth.

Lunar eclipse

When Earth blocks most of the sunlight from illuminating the Moons surface for several hours when in the full moon phase

Why is the moon dark and red during an eclipse?

The moon becomes dark because it is in a shadow.
The moon becomes red because the earth's atmosphere bends some of the red light from the sun towards the moon.

How can lunar eclipses show that Earth is ROUND?

As the moon enters Earth's shadow, the shadow is CURVED. This means Earth is ROUND...not flat.

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse: Moon blocks the Sun, casting its [Moon's] shadow on the Earth.

Types of Solar Eclipse

Partial, total, and annular

When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must be in which phase?

new moon

Conditions for eclipses to occur

Eclipses occur ONLY when the Moon crosses the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun AND ONLY during the NEW or FULL phases

When the Moon is high in the sky (on the meridian), what direction do you have to look?

South

You see the moon rising at midnight. What will the phase of the moon be in one week?

new moon

Which of the following groups of moon phases can be seen (above the horizon) at 3:00 am?

full moon, waning gibbous, and third quarter

When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must be at which phase?

new moon

In what phase and location described below will the Moon be, when a lunar eclipse occurs?

full phase and crossing the plane of Earth's orbit

If the moon is highest in the sky this morning at 6:00am, what phase will the Moon be in one week from now?

new

If tonight the phase is full when the moon is rising at 6pm, at about what time will the moon rise tomorrow? (Hint: As the moon progress from full to its next major phase, does the moon rise earlier or later?)

6:50 p.m.

Suppose Joe leaves the library after studying every night at 10:30pm. While he waits at the bus stop, what moon phases can he see? (i.e., Which moon phases could be visible at 10:30pm?)

first quarter through waning gibbous

How are the motions and positions of Earth and the Sun connected to what happens on Earth?

Earth's rotation on its axis determines the length of the day.
Earth's orbit around the Sun determines the length of the year.
The tilt of Earth's rotational axis with respect to the plane of Earth's orbit causes the seasons.

How long does it take to complete the full cycle of Moon Phases?

about 30 days. moon cycles inspired the month

Moon phases names

New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
Waning Crescent

How much of the moon is lit by the sun all the time?

Although the Moon is always � lit by the Sun, we see different amounts of the lit portion from Earth depending on where the Moon is located in its orbit.

Waxing moon

waxing = growing
Moon visible in afternoon/evening
Gets "fuller" and rises later each day

Waning moon

waning = shrinking
Moon visible in late night/morning
Gets "less" and sets later each day

During the full Moon phase, how much of the total Moon's surface is being illuminated by sunlight?

one half

Which of the following best describes why the moon goes through phases?

We see only part of the lit-up half of the moon depending on its position relative to the Earth and Sun

Only one side of the Moon sees daylight.
(OR there are no "days" on the Moon)

False! The moon's rotational period and orbital period are the same. That is, it takes the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it does to orbit the earth. (Synchronous Rotation)

Why do we only see one side of the moon?

Synchronous rotation: The Moon rotates exactly once with each orbit around the Earth.
This is why we only see one side of the moon from Earth.

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when one astronomical object passes in front of another.
One object casts its shadow on the other.

What are the two types of eclipses?

Two types:
Lunar: The moon passes through Earth's shadow.
Solar: The moon passes in front of the sun, casting its [Moon's] shadow on Earth.

Lunar eclipse

When Earth blocks most of the sunlight from illuminating the Moons surface for several hours when in the full moon phase

Why is the moon dark and red during an eclipse?

The moon becomes dark because it is in a shadow.
The moon becomes red because the earth's atmosphere bends some of the red light from the sun towards the moon.

How can lunar eclipses show that Earth is ROUND?

As the moon enters Earth's shadow, the shadow is CURVED. This means Earth is ROUND...not flat.

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse: Moon blocks the Sun, casting its [Moon's] shadow on the Earth.

Types of Solar Eclipse

Partial, total, and annular

When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must be in which phase?

new moon

Conditions for eclipses to occur

Eclipses occur ONLY when the Moon crosses the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun AND ONLY during the NEW or FULL phases

When the Moon is high in the sky (on the meridian), what direction do you have to look?

South

You see the moon rising at midnight. What will the phase of the moon be in one week?

new moon

Which of the following groups of moon phases can be seen (above the horizon) at 3:00 am?

full moon, waning gibbous, and third quarter

When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must be at which phase?

new moon

In what phase and location described below will the Moon be, when a lunar eclipse occurs?

full phase and crossing the plane of Earth's orbit

If the moon is highest in the sky this morning at 6:00am, what phase will the Moon be in one week from now?

new

If tonight the phase is full when the moon is rising at 6pm, at about what time will the moon rise tomorrow? (Hint: As the moon progress from full to its next major phase, does the moon rise earlier or later?)

6:50 p.m.

Suppose Joe leaves the library after studying every night at 10:30pm. While he waits at the bus stop, what moon phases can he see? (i.e., Which moon phases could be visible at 10:30pm?)

first quarter through waning gibbous