The revolution of the Moon around the Earth makes the Moon appear as if it is

changing shape in the sky. From Earth we see the Moon grow from a thin crescent
to a full disk (or full moon) and then shrink back to a thin crescent again before
vanishing for a few days.
The Moon phases are produced by the alignment of the Moon and the Sun
in the sky
The lit part of the Moon always points the way to the Sun.
What is the phase of the moon?
The changing shape of the bright part of the Moon that we see is called its phase.
What causes the different phases of the Moon?
The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and Earth. s
the Moon makes its way around the Earth! we see the bright parts of the Moon"s
surface at different angles. These are called #phases# of the Moon.
What causes part of the Moon to be lit up?
The moon is illuminated because it reflects the light from the sun. The part of the
moon facing the sun is lit up. The part facing away from the sun is in darkness.
What are the different phases of the Moon called?
The phases of the moon work in a cycle starting with the new moon.
Did you know?
$ountries near the e%uator see the crescent moon shaped like a smile&
There are eight phases of the moon
The phases are named after how much of the moon we can see, and
whether the amount visible is increasing, or decreasing each day.
hases of the moon as seen in the !orthern "emisphere
hases of the moon as seen in the Southern "emisphere
#t takes our Moon about $%.& days to completely cycle through all eight
phases. This is known as a 'unar month
#t takes our Moon about $%.& days to completely
cycle through all eight phases. This is known as
a 'unar month
s the moon orbits the earth, we see the sunlit part
of the moon.
The Moon orbits near the e(uator of the )arth.
eople in different hemispheres see the moon in a
slightly different way.
#n the Southern "emisphere, people see the moon
*upside down* so the side which is shining +sunlit,
seems the opposite from the !orthern
"emisphere.
hases of the moon as seen in the !orthern "emisphere
hases of the moon as seen in the Southern "emisphere
-ountries in the different hemispheres see the
Moon from a completely different vantage point
from each other.
#n the northern hemisphere the first (uarter looks
like a growing D, while in the southern
hemisphere it looks like a -.
#n the northern hemisphere the last (uarter looks
like a -, while in the southern hemisphere looks
like a D.
#n the !orthern "emisphere the
sunlit part of the moon moves from
right to left.
D.- +D first (uarter . full
Moon - last (uarter,
#n the Southern "emisphere the sunlit
part moves from the left to the right.
- . D +- first (uarter . full
Moon D last (uarter,
The images below show what the moon phases are
like in each hemisphere.
The side of the Moon and its phases vary depending on our
location on Earth.
!orthern "emisphere Southern "emisphere
February '()( February '()(
!orthern "emisphere / -lockwise
The moon is seen in the south. )ast, where the sun
and moon rises, is to the left, and west +sunset
and moonset, is on the right. #n the northern
hemisphere the apparent movement of the sun and
the moon is from left to right throughout the
hours.
Southern "emisphere / anti/clockwise
The moon is seen in the north. 0acing the moon,
the east is on the right and west on the left. The
sun and the moon seem to move across the sky
from right to left.
What is the Moon like at the e(uator?
*n places close to the e%uator+
the first (uarter will have the shape of the letter n (inverted ,) when it
rises! and the shape ofletter 1 when it sets.
the last (uarter would seem like the shape of letter 1 when it rises and the
shape of the letter n (inverted ,) when it sets.
Source:http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/moon/facts.htm