Podcast
Questions and Answers
What phase of the Moon is completely dark and not visible from Earth?
What phase of the Moon is completely dark and not visible from Earth?
New Moon
How long does it take for the Moon to complete its entire cycle from New Moon to New Moon?
How long does it take for the Moon to complete its entire cycle from New Moon to New Moon?
About one month
What is the term used for the second Full Moon that occurs within a single month?
What is the term used for the second Full Moon that occurs within a single month?
Blue Moon
Which phase occurs when half of the illuminated side of the Moon is visible from Earth?
Which phase occurs when half of the illuminated side of the Moon is visible from Earth?
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During which phase does the Moon appear more than half illuminated but not fully?
During which phase does the Moon appear more than half illuminated but not fully?
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What happens to the illuminated side of the Moon after it reaches the Full Moon phase?
What happens to the illuminated side of the Moon after it reaches the Full Moon phase?
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What is the visual appearance of the Moon during the Waxing Crescent phase?
What is the visual appearance of the Moon during the Waxing Crescent phase?
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Describe the appearance of the Moon during the Third Quarter phase.
Describe the appearance of the Moon during the Third Quarter phase.
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Study Notes
Lunar Cycle
- The lunar cycle describes the Moon's monthly journey around the Earth.
- It begins with a New Moon, which isn't visible from Earth.
- Over two weeks, the Moon waxes (grows) into a Full Moon, its brightest and roundest phase.
- The Moon then wanes (shrinks) back to a New Moon, completing the cycle.
- The entire process takes approximately one month.
Moon Phases
- New Moon: The Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making its Earth-facing side completely dark.
- Waxing Crescent: As the Moon orbits, a small sliver of its illuminated side becomes visible from Earth.
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half, but not all, of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth.
- Full Moon: The Moon's entire illuminated side is visible from Earth. If it happens twice in a single month, the second Full Moon is called a Blue Moon.
- Waning Gibbous: More than half, but not all, of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth.
- Third Quarter: The opposite half of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth.
- Waning Crescent: A small sliver of the illuminated side becomes visible again as the Moon approaches the New Moon phase.
Diagram Description
- The diagram visually represents the Moon's phases as seen from Earth.
- It depicts the Moon's orbit around the Earth and how the illuminated portion changes over time, in relation to the Sun.
- Simplified illustrations show the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, with the Sun represented by a large yellow circle.
- Smaller images represent the Moon at each phase, illustrating the waxing and waning cycles, with labels indicating the phases.
- There's a "The Moon as seen from Earth" label beneath the phases.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the lunar cycle and the different phases of the Moon. Explore how the Moon transitions from New to Full and back again over the course of a month. This quiz covers key concepts and terminology related to lunar phases and their significance.
