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
