Phases Of The MoonPhases Of The Moon

D. Crowley, 2007D. Crowley, 2007

Phases Of The MoonPhases Of The Moon

• To know what causes the phases of the moon• To know what causes the phases of the moon

Which Seasons?Which Seasons?

• Copy the diagram of the Earth orbiting the sun into your book

• The diagram shows the Earth around the sun during different seasons, but they are not labeled - can you add Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter?

• Copy the diagram of the Earth orbiting the sun into your book

• The diagram shows the Earth around the sun during different seasons, but they are not labeled - can you add Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter?

North - you are here!

S

N

S

N

S

N

S

Hint: -UK is in northern hemisphereNearer UK is to sun, the warmer it isEarth is at different distances to sun during different seasons

Summer - UK nearest to sunWinter - UK furthest from sun

Autumn

Spring

The MoonThe Moon

• Draw a sketch of the moon in your book

• The moon can be drawn differently, because it appears to vary its shape every month

• Why is it varying its shape so much?

• In fact, what is the moon - could we live on it?

• Draw a sketch of the moon in your book

• The moon can be drawn differently, because it appears to vary its shape every month

• Why is it varying its shape so much?

• In fact, what is the moon - could we live on it?

MoonMoon• Moons are heavenly bodes which orbit other planets• Gravity of the Earth keeps our moon in orbit• Earth has one moon, but some planets have many of

them• Earth’s moon has no atmosphere, so we could not live

on it - in fact Earth’s Moon is pretty boring - just a big lump of rock with lots of impact craters!

• We only see the Moon because it reflects sunlight• It takes the moon 28 days to orbit the Earth

• Moons are heavenly bodes which orbit other planets• Gravity of the Earth keeps our moon in orbit• Earth has one moon, but some planets have many of

them• Earth’s moon has no atmosphere, so we could not live

on it - in fact Earth’s Moon is pretty boring - just a big lump of rock with lots of impact craters!

• We only see the Moon because it reflects sunlight• It takes the moon 28 days to orbit the Earth

As the Moon orbits the Earth we see different amounts of it - the different phases of the Moon.

We can only see the part of the Moon which reflects sunlight, and this depends on where the Moon is during its orbit around the Earth

PhasesPhasesAs the Moon orbits the Earth we see different amounts of it - the different phases of the Moon.

We can only see the part of the Moon which reflects sunlight (the illuminated side), and this depends on where the Moon is during its orbit around the Earth

Why the shapes?Why the shapes?

New Moon Waxing Crescent First Quarter

Full Moon Waning Gibbous Last Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Waning Crescent

Copy the shapes of the Moon into your books, and write a sentence explaining why we see the Moon in different phases - clue: orbit & sunlight

Moon PhasesMoon Phases

• We see the moon because it reflects sunlight. The phases of the moon depend on how much of the illuminated side of the moon we can see - if the illuminated side completely faces Earth we call this a full moon. If we can see none of the illuminated side, we call this a new moon. The phases in between have varying levels of reflected light reaching the Earth

• We see the moon because it reflects sunlight. The phases of the moon depend on how much of the illuminated side of the moon we can see - if the illuminated side completely faces Earth we call this a full moon. If we can see none of the illuminated side, we call this a new moon. The phases in between have varying levels of reflected light reaching the Earth

Full moon - illuminated side completely faces Earth

New moon - illuminated side does not face Earth

Common MistakeCommon Mistake

• Be careful - many people think that the Earth stops light getting to the Moon, and this is what causes the phases. This is incorrect - however if this does happen we get an eclipse of the Moon: -

• Be careful - many people think that the Earth stops light getting to the Moon, and this is what causes the phases. This is incorrect - however if this does happen we get an eclipse of the Moon: -

All About The MoonAll About The Moon• Complete the worksheet “All about the Moon”, and

stick it into your books

• If you complete this, have a go at the space crossword

• Complete the worksheet “All about the Moon”, and stick it into your books

• If you complete this, have a go at the space crossword

All About The MoonAll About The MoonThe Moon is a round ball of rock. It orbits around the Earth once every 28 days. The Moon does not make its own light. We can only see it because it reflects light from the Sun.

The Moon seems to be different shapes at different times of the month. These shapes are called phases of the Moon. When the Moon looks like a complete circle, we call it a full Moon.

The Moon has no atmosphere, so nothing can live on it. Astronauts on the Moon have to bring their own oxygen and food.

The Moon is a round ball of rock. It orbits around the Earth once every 28 days. The Moon does not make its own light. We can only see it because it reflects light from the Sun.

The Moon seems to be different shapes at different times of the month. These shapes are called phases of the Moon. When the Moon looks like a complete circle, we call it a full Moon.

The Moon has no atmosphere, so nothing can live on it. Astronauts on the Moon have to bring their own oxygen and food.

Moon’s orbit

Sunlight

Night time on Earth

Day time on Earth

Dark side of the Moon

We can see this side of the Moon