Phases, Eclipses, and Tides

Rotation
the spinning of a planet on its axis

Orbit / Revolve
the movement of one object around another

Motion of the Moon

The moon rotates on its axis once about every 28
days and it revolves around the Earth once every 28
days.

The moon is a natural satellite of Earth.

The changing positions of the Moon, Earth, and

Sun cause the phases of the moon, eclipses
and tides.

Phases of the Moon

In the night sky, the shape of the Moon
changes through its 28 day cycle.

 The different
shapes of the moon
are called phases.

 The moon reflects the light of the sun. It

doesnt make its own light.

 Half of the moon is always lighted by the Sun.

The other half is always in the dark.

 The phase of the moon you see depends on

how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces
Earth.

 Waxing when the Moons phase is increasing

to a full moon
Waning when the Moons phase is decreasing
to a new moon (no moon)

Solar Eclipses

Eclipses
Eclipse the partial or total blocking of
one object in space by another

Solar Eclipse
Happens when the moon is between the earth
and the sun.
The moon blocks light from the sun.

Solar Eclipse
Umbra - the
darkest part
of the moons
shadow

Penumbra - the less

dark part of the
moons shadow

 People in the umbra see a total solar

eclipse
People in the penumbra see a partial solar
eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipses
Happens when the earth is between the moon and
the sun.

 The earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon.

 Total lunar eclipses can be seen

anywhere on earth (as long as it is
night).
Partial lunar eclipses occur when the
moon passes only partly into the umbra
of the Earths shadow.

We know that the moon and planets do

not make their own light because we
have observed eclipses and phases of
the moon and planets.

 Tides are the rise and fall of ocean

water.
It rises for about 6 hours and then falls
for 6 hours changes 4 times a day.

 Tides are caused by differences in how

much the moons gravity pulls on different
parts of the earth.

Spring Tides
When there is a great difference in
high and low tide. The sun, moon, and
earth are in a line.
The gravity of the sun and the moon
combine to create very high and very
low tides.
Spring tides occur twice a month.

Neap Tides
When there is a smaller difference
between high and low tide.
Happens when the sun and moon are at
right angles to each other.
Neap tides occur twice a month.