3. The moon does not make its own light. We see it
because it reflects light from the sun.
The terminator is the moving boundary between
day and night. Notice that it moves right to left.
5. Phases of the moon are caused by the
angle between the earth, moon, and sun.
6. Lunar Phase
animation
Another animation
Notice that the
terminator is moving
right to left.
Video clip on phases
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. Link to NASA eclipse page
Be sure to scroll down for
a list of upcoming eclipses.
