2. It’s just going through a phase! Source: NASA, Apollo 11

3. If you look at the Moon each night, you’ll notice its appearance changes. If you watch closely, you’ll notice the Moon changes in a regular pattern. It gets larger, and then it gets smaller and then larger again. Why?

4. The Earth revolves around and the Sun and the Moon revolves around the EarthThe Earth revolves around and the Sun and the Moon revolves around the Earth. As the Moon revolves around the Earth, different parts of the Moon are in sunlight. This causes the phases of the Moon.

5. There are eight major phases of the Moon you should know. Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm New Moon

6. Waxing – The Moon appears to be getting larger (right side in sunlight). Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm Waxing Crescent

7. First Quarter Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

8. Gibbous – Between half and full. Waxing Gibbous Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

9. Full Moon Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

10. Waning – The Moon appears to be getting smaller (left side in sunlight). Waning Gibbous Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

11. Last/3 rd Quarter Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

12. Waning Crescent Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

13. And the cycle begins all over again, month after month after month. Click here for video.

14. Moon phases by the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. New Moon

15. Moon phases by the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Waxing Crescent

16. First Quarter

17. Moon phases by the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Waxing Gibbous

18. Full Moon

19. Waning Gibbous

20. Last/3 rd Quarter

21. Waning Crescent