1. Seasons Review
Earth’s rotation axis is tilted 23.5 degrees; tilt remains the same as it orbits the sun
Therefore, different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of daily sunlight throughout the year, as Earth orbits the Sun.
If Sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, incident sunlight is more concentrated, heating more efficient  summer
If Sun is lower in the sky throughout the day, incident sunlight is more dilute, heating less efficient  winter

2. Seasons Review
Equinoxes: Sun is on equator (ecliptic and celestial equator intersect); rises due East, sets due west
March: moving north
September: moving south
Equal daylight / night time
Solstices: Extreme North and South positions for Sun
June: farthest North (Tropic of Cancer, latitude +23.5), longest day
December: farthest South (Tropic of Capricorn, latitude -23.5), shortest day

3. Seasons Review
Antarctic circle (lat. = -( ) = receives no sunlight on June Solstice
Arctic circle (lat. = +( ) = receive no sunlight on December Solstice

4. Phases of the Moon
The Phases of the Moon are the variations in the Moon’s appearance as the Moon orbits the Earth.
They are due to the changing Sun-Earth-Moon angle through each month.
The following is the cycle of lunar phases: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, gibbous, full, gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent, new
To see a time-lapse movie of the Moon going through a complete cycle of Lunar Phases
Go to

5. Moon Phases The Moon orbits the Earth in about one month (29.5 days)
Over one orbit the appearance and rise and set times change with the cycle of Lunar Phases.
The figure is not to scale

6. Light & Dark
We only see the Moon because sunlight reflects off its surface.
At any one time, half the Moon is always lit and half is in darkness.
The amount of the illuminated half we see from Earth depends on the position of the Moon in its orbit
The time of day the Moon is visible also depends on its phase.
How the Earth and Moon would
look high above Earth’s North Pole.
The figure is not to scale.

7. Example: Observing the Moon
Between September 10-11, at dusk, the Moon will be visible in its waxing crescent phase.
The first night it appeared close to the Sun. Subsequent nights it will appear higher in the sky (farther from the Sun) and the lit portion appeared to be growing larger.
What do you think you would see the next night? How about a week later?

8. The Moon Rises Later Each Day

9. Lunar Phase Terms The cycle of Lunar Phases starts at the New Moon.
At New Moon the Moon is not visible to us on Earth.
From New Moon to Full Moon the illuminated fraction of the Moon we see from Earth grows. It is said to be waxing.
After Full Moon the fraction of the illuminated Moon visible from Earth shrinks. It is said to be waning.
In this figure if we were standing on the Earth looking up at the moon we would see
only a small part of the illuminated side of the Moon,
the Moon would appear to us as a crescent.
We can only see the half of the
Moon above and to the right of the
diagonal line drawn on the Moon
in the figure above.

10. The Cycle of Lunar Phases
The Lunar cycle is split into quarters
New Moon
1st Quarter
Full Moon
3rd (or Last) Quarter
Since the whole cycle lasts about a month each quarter lasts about a week.
Since our calendar is not perfectly aligned with the cycle of Lunar Phases the phases will never be at exactly the same day each month.
See for more months.

11. As you view the moon from different directions (relative to the Sun) its appearance changes.

12. sunlight sunlight crosses meridian at sundown crosses meridian
at about 9:00 pm
crosses meridian
at about 3:00 pm
sunlight
crosses
meridian
at midnight
crosses
meridian
at noon
sunlight
Remember the meridian is the line that goes through your zenith, the North Celestial Poles and the North and South points on the horizon. The times given are only approximate.
Does the appearance of the Moon at each phase (the figures in the black boxes) make sense considering that the Sun is to the right in this figure?
Do the online exercise “Lunar Phases Web Tool” located at
crosses meridian
at about 9:00 am
crosses
meridian
at about 3:00 am
crosses meridian
at dawn

13. Phases of the Moon What Can You See

14. Phases of the Moon When Can You See It

15. The Lunar Phases Web Tools
Lunar Phases -- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lunar Phases Interactive

16. Lunar Libration

17. Near and Far Sides of the Moon
Robert Gendler, 1999
Apollo 16, 1972