3. The terminator is the moving boundary between day and night. Notice that it moves right to left. The moon does not make its own light. We see it because it reflects light from the sun.
5. Phases of the moon are caused by the angle between the earth, moon, and sun.
6. Lunar Phase animation Another animation Video clip on phases Notice that the terminator is moving right to left.
7. Waxing means getting bigger every night. Waning means getting smaller every night. Crescent means less than half the surface of the moon facing you is lit by the sun. Gibbous means more than half of the surface of the moon facing you is lit by the sun.
22. This animation shows the relative sizes of the partial and total eclipse areas. The small, black dot is the umbra. You can see why not many people ever see a total eclipse.
23. This is a space shuttle photograph of an area of the Earth having a total solar eclipse.
24. Types of eclipses Link to NASA eclipse page Be sure to scroll down for a list of upcoming eclipses.