The Moon

Rotation vs. Revolution The Earth rotates on its axis. One rotation happens every 24 hours. This rotation gives us day and night. The Earth revolves around the Sun on its orbit. One revolution happens every 365 ¼ days (one year).

Moon- 27.5 days to revolve around the Earth. Takes about 27 days for the moon to make one full rotation on its axis. We only see one side of the moon. The phase of the moon depends on how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces earth.

The moon was once a part of Earth The moon was once a part of Earth. A large object, pulled by Earth’s gravity, knocked it off. The moon is about ¼ the diameter of the Earth.

Phases are caused by the revolution of the moon. Phase we see depends on how much of the lit part we see. It takes the moon 27.32 days to revolve around Earth. That is how many days it takes to cycle through the phases.

Phases of the MOon

Phases of the Moon