1. Lunar Cycle Goal: Identify the phases of the Moon, and
relate the phases to eclipses.

2. Memory Devices: White on the right, growing bright!
White on the left, losing light!

3. Memory Devices: Wax on – increasing light!
Just as a candle wick is dipped in wax, and the candle wax increases the size of the candle.
Wane off – decreasing light!
Gibbous – bulge

4. Memory Devices: New Moon = Near the Sun Full Moon = Far from Sun
Remember, YOU are on the EARTH looking at the Moon.

5. The new moon phase occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth.
When this occurs, there is a possibility of having a solar eclipse.
Solar eclipses do not happen each month because the orbit of the Moon is in a different plane of orbit than the Earth.
Images courtesy of Clip Art
New Moon

6. The Moon revolves around the Earth.
Waxing means to increase in size. This refers to the lit portion of the Moon.
Crescent refers to the shape.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Images courtesy of Clip Art
Waxing Crescent

7. When the Moon has gone one fourth of the way around the Earth, it is called the first quarter.
From our point of view, the right half of the Moon is lit.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Images courtesy of Clip Art
First Quarter

8. Waxing Gibbous The word gibbous means bulging.
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 in size.
Click twice to make the Moon move to its new position.
Images courtesy of Clip Art
Waxing Gibbous

9. During the full moon, we see the light reflecting from the entire surface of the Moon facing the Earth.
During this phase, it is possible to have a lunar eclipse.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Images courtesy of Clip Art
Full Moon

10. Waning Gibbous Waning means to decrease in size.
During the waning phase of the Moon, the lit portion decreases in size.
The waning gibbous occurs after the full moon.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Waning Gibbous

11. Third Quarter The third quarter has the lit side on the left.
The Moon is three fourths of the way around its orbit.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Third Quarter

12. The waning crescent gets smaller and smaller, until the Moon completes its orbit and begins a new cycle with another new moon.
Click twice to make the moon move to its new position.
Waning Crescent

13. The Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth
The Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth. The Moon casts a shadow on the Earth; this only occurs with a new moon. This does not occur with every new moon due to the Moon being in a different plane of orbit of than the Earth.
Solar Eclipse

14. The Earth, Sun, and Moon are directly lined up in the center
The Earth, Sun, and Moon are directly lined up in the center. The Earth casts a shadow on the Moon; this only occurs with a full moon. This does not occur with every full moon due to the Moon being in a different plane of orbit of than the Earth. .
Images courtesy of Clip Art
Lunar Eclipse

15. Memory Devices: White on the right, growing bright!
White on the left, losing light!

16. Memory Devices: Wax on – increasing light!
Just as a candle wick is dipped in wax, and the candle wax increases the size of the candle.
Wane off – decreasing light!
Gibbous – bulge

17. Memory Devices: New Moon = Near the Sun Full Moon = Far from Sun
Remember, YOU are on the EARTH looking at the Moon.

18. Review What phase is this? Be prepared to Justify your answer.
First Quarter
Call on students to use their Lunar Vocabulary handouts to answer questions.
Review What phase is this? Be prepared to Justify your answer.

19. What phase? What phase would be next?
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
What phase? What phase would be next?

20. What phase? What phase would be next?
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
What phase? What phase would be next?

21. What phase? What phase would be next?
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
What phase? What phase would be next?

22. What phase? What phase would be next?
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
What phase? What phase would be next?

23. What type of eclipse could occur during this phase?
Lunar Eclipse
What type of eclipse could occur during this phase?

24. What phase? What phase would be next?
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
What phase? What phase would be next?

25. What phase? What phase would be next?
Waning Crescent
New Moon
What phase? What phase would be next?

26. What is different from our view on Earth?
What is different from our view on Earth?
A View From Outer Space

27. Would you still be able to label the phases without seeing them?
This type of question and graphic is quite common on
assessments.
A View From Outer Space

28. Moon Phase Graphic Organizer