Memory Devices White on RIGHT, growing bright! White on LEFT, losing light!
Memory Devices WAX on—increasing light! WANE off –decreasing light Gibbous—bulge
Memory Devices New Moon = Near the Sun Full Moon = Far from the Sun Remember, YOU are on the EARTH looking at the Moon
The New Moon phase occurs when the moon is between the Sun and the Earth. What the moon looks like from Earth. New Moon
Waxing Crescent The moon revolves around Earth. WAXING means to increase in size. This refers to the lit portion of the moon. Crescent refers to the shape. What the moon looks like from Earth. Waxing Crescent
When the moon has traveled, one quarter of the way around Earth, it is called the First Quarter. From our point of view on Earth, it looks like a the right half is lit. What the moon looks like from Earth. First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous The gibbous phase looks like a fat football. The word gibbous means bulging. During the waxing gibbous phase, the lit side of the moon continues to grow. What the moon looks like from Earth. Waxing Gibbous
During the Full Moon, we see the light reflecting from the entire surface of the moon facing the Earth. What the moon looks like from Earth. Full Moon
Waning Gibbous Waning means to decrease in size. During the waning phase of the Moon, the lit portion decreases in size. What the moon looks like from Earth. Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter or Last Quarter The Third Quarter has the left side of the Moon lit. The moon is three fourths of the way around the Earth. What the moon looks like from Earth. Third Quarter or Last Quarter
The Waning Crescent gets smaller and smaller, until the Moon completes its orbit and begins a new cycle. What the moon looks like from Earth. Waning Crescent
The New Moon phase occurs when the moon is between the Sun and the Earth. What the moon looks like from Earth. New Moon
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Lunar cycle is 29.5 days
1. What phase is this picture? New Moon First Quarter Waxing Crescent Waning Crescent
2. What phase is this picture? Last quarter Waxing Gibbous Waning Gibbous First quarter
3. What phase is this picture? Last quarter Waxing Gibbous Waning Gibbous New Moon
4. What phase is this picture? Waxing Crescent Waning Crescent Waxing Gibbous Waning Gibbous
5. What phase is this picture? New Moon Full Moon First quarter Last quarter
6. What phase is this picture? Waxing Crescent First quarter Waning gibbous Last quarter
7. What phase is this picture? Waxing Gibbous Waning Gibbous Full moon First quarter
8. What phase is this picture? Waxing crescent Waning crescent First quarter Last quarter