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Questions and Answers
What causes the moon to undergo different phases?
How often does the moon go through a complete lunar cycle?
During which lunar phase is the moon's face fully illuminated?
What is the name of the lunar phase when the moon is less than half full and the illuminated area is decreasing?
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During which lunar phase can the moon only be seen during a solar eclipse?
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What is the name of the lunar phase when the moon is more than half full and the illuminated surface is still increasing?
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During which lunar phase is the moon half illuminated?
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What is the name of the lunar phase when the moon is a crescent shape and the illuminated portion is increasing?
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During which lunar phase is the moon more than half full, but the illuminated surface that is visible is decreasing?
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Study Notes
The moon undergoes various phases due to its movements relative to the Earth and the sun. Every month, the moon goes through a lunar cycle, transitioning from new moon to full moon and back again. Here is an overview of the eight distinct lunar phases:
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New Moon: During this phase, the moon is between Earth and the sun, meaning we cannot see any illumination on the moon's disc. It is only visible during a solar eclipse.
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Waxing Crescent: As the moon's illuminated portion increases, it remains a crescent shape as long as it hasn't reached half its maximum illumination.
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First Quarter: At this stage, half of the moon is illuminated, and the percentage of the lit surface is still increasing.
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Waxing Gibbous: When the moon is more than half full and still increasing its illuminated surface, it is called waxing gibbous.
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Full Moon: In this phase, the moon is behind Earth with respect to the sun, and its face is fully illuminated.
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Waning Gibbous: This is the stage when the moon is more than half lit but the illuminated surface that is visible is decreasing.
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Last Quarter: During this phase, the moon is once again half illuminated, but the lit area that is visible is on the decline.
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Waning Crescent: As the next new moon nears, the moon shrinks back to a crescent that is less than half full.
These phases occur because the moon does not produce its own light. Instead, the silvery glow we see comes from sunlight reflecting off its monochrome surface. The moon's view is also determined by a gravitational quirk called tidal locking, which means the same side of the moon always faces Earth. As the moon, Earth, and the sun move through their orbital dance, the part of the moon that is illuminated by sunlight changes, resulting in a consistent sequence of lunar phases.
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Description
Learn about the eight distinct lunar phases, from new moon to full moon and back again. Understand how the moon's illuminated portion changes throughout its monthly cycle and why we observe these different phases. Explore the concepts of sunlight reflection and tidal locking in relation to the moon's visibility.
