Phases of the

Moon
The Lunar Cycle
Learning Target: Explain
how the positions of the Sun,
Earth, & Moon causes the
phases of the Moon.
 Why and How does the Moon
orbit around the Earth?
The Moon Revolves around the
Earth.
Gravity attracts the moon
towards Earth.
Inertia keeps the moon in
motion so it does NOT stop
revolving.
Remember:
New Moon = Near the Sun

Full Moon = Far from Sun

Remember:
Waxing (Wax on Karate Kid)-
increasing/growing light!
White on the right, growing
bright!
Remember:
Waning = off
decreasing/Less Light!
White on the Left, Losing
Light
Remember:
Gibbous means bulge
Looks like a fat football
New Moon: Moon is Between
Sun and Earth. Near Sun=No
light
 Waxing:
White light
on right
growing
bright

Waxing Crescent: Moon revolves

counter-clockwise increasing light
in shape of a crescent.
 Light on
the Right

First Quarter: Moon has revolved

¼ of way around the Earth. Right
half looks lit from Earth.
 Waxing:
Growing
Light on
Right

Waxing Gibbous: Lit side of Moon

grows/bulges in size to look like
fat football.
 Full Moon =
Far from
Sun

Full Moon: We see light reflecting

from all of one side(1/2) of Moon
facing the Earth
 Waning=
Less Light
on Left

Waning Gibbous: We see lit part of

Moon on the Left with Less Light
right after Full Moon.
 Left ½
side is lit.

Third Quarter: Moon is ¾ the

way around the Earth.
 Waning
means Less
Light on
the Left

Waning Crescent: Gets smaller &

smaller until revolves back to New
Moon position.
 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
 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.
.

Lunar Eclipse
Memory Devices:
White on the right, growing bright!

White on the left, losing light!

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
Memory Devices:
New Moon = Near the Sun

Full Moon = Far from Sun

Remember, YOU are on the EARTH

looking at the Moon.
 First
Quarter

Review
What phase is this? Be prepared to
Justify your answer.
 New Moon

Waxing
Crescent

What phase?
What phase would be next?
 Waning
Gibbous

Third
Quarter

What phase?
What phase would be next?
 Full Moon

Waning
Gibbous

What phase?
What phase would be next?
 Waxing
Crescent

First
Quarter

What phase?
What phase would be next?
 Lunar
Eclipse

What type of eclipse could occur

during this phase?
 First
Quarter

Waxing
Gibbous

What phase?
What phase would be next?
 Waning
Crescent

New Moon

What phase?
What phase would be next?
What is different from our view on Earth?

A View From Outer Space

• 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

Moon Phase Graphic Organizer