1. Phases of the Moon

2. Sun Lighted Side Dark Side Moon Earth Day Night Moon’s Orbit Earth–Moon Relationship The Moon revolves around the Earth every 29 ½ days! The Moon also rotates on its axis every 29 ½ days.

3. Sun Lighted Side Dark Side Moon Earth Day Night Moon’s Orbit Because of that, the same side of the Moon faces the Earth as the Moon revolves around the Earth. Earth–Moon Relationship

4. The Moon Phases The shape of the Moon appears to change

5. Waxing Moons The Moon appears to grow or get bigger The Moon phases starting at the New Moon and ending at the Full Moon New Moon Waxing Gibbous 1 st Quarter Waxing Crescent Full Moon

6. Waning Moons The Moon appears to be getting smaller or disappearing The moon phases starting at Full Moon and ending with the New Moon Full Moon Waning Crescent 3 rd or Last Quarter Waning Gibbous New Moon

7. Earth Sun New Moon No Moon is visible in the night sky. What we would see at night on Earth – no moon! We can’t see the moon at night because it is on the other side of the Earth

8. New Moon

9. Waxing Crescent A small sliver on the right side of the Moon is visible just after sundown. What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the moon is viewed from Earth Sun

10. Waxing Crescent

11. 1 st Quarter Earth Looks like half of the Moon, but you are really seeing only a quarter. What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the moon is viewed from Sun Earth

12. 1 st Quarter

13. Waxing Gibbous Earth The lighted side has bulged out; visible in the evening. What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the Moon is viewed from Earth Sun

14. Waxing Gibbous

15. Full Moon Earth Very bright; you can see all of the lighted side of the Moon. Earth Sun What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the Moon is viewed from

16. Full Moon

17. Waning Gibbous Earth The lighted side is now on the left side; visible in the early morning. What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the Moon is viewed from Earth Sun

18. Waning Gibbous

19. 3 rd (Last) Quarter Earth Opposite image of 1 st Quarter What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the Moon is viewed from Earth Sun

20. 3 rd (Last) Quarter

21. Waning Crescent Earth A small sliver of the Moon is visible just before dawn. What we would see at night on Earth This is the angle the Moon is viewed from Earth Sun

22. Waning Crescent

23. The Moon Phases Moon Phases Animation

24. Earth Sun Why We See Moon Phases Earth The shape of the Moon appears to change due to the angle at which the lighted side is seen from Earth.

25. Earth Sun 1 st Quarter Waning Gibbous Full Moon Waxing Crescent New Moon Waning Crescent 3 rd (Last) Quarter Waxing Gibbous Why We See Moon Phases Animation

26. The Phases of the Moon