Winton Eliott
Most people know that the Moon goes through different phases. But what causes these phases, and why do they occur in the order that they do?
This essay will explore the different phases of the moon, as well as what causes them.
The moon orbits around Earth and is illuminated by the sun
The moon is a natural satellite of Earth, meaning that it orbits around our planet.
It is thought to have formed around 4.5 billion years ago when a giant impact caused debris to break off from Earth and come together to form the moon.
The moon is unusual in our solar system because it is much smaller than the planets and does not have an atmosphere.
As a result, it has no weather and the surface temperature range is extreme, from -153 degrees Celsius to 123 degrees Celsius.
The moon is also tidally locked with Earth, meaning that one side of the moon always faces us while the other side is turned away.
This means that we only ever see one side of the moon, which is why we call it the “dark side.”
The side of the moon that faces away from Earth is actually just as bright as the side that faces us; it just appears dark because we can’t see it.
The dark side of the moon was first photographed by an unmanned spacecraft in 1959 and has since been visited by both Russian and American astronauts.
Although it may seem like a desolate place, the dark side of the moon is actually quite fascinating.
- Related post: How Big is the Moon
- Related post: How Far Is The Moon From Earth
Why do we see different phases of the moon?
The moon orbits around Earth, and as it does so, we see different phases of the moon depending on the angle at which we view it.
When the side of the moon that is facing us is lit up by the sun, we see a full moon.
This happens when the moon is directly between Earth and the sun.
Half of the moon is always lit up by the sun, but as the moon orbits Earth, we sometimes see more of the lit-up side than at other times.
This is why we see different phases of the moon – full, half, crescent, etc.
The angle at which we see the lit-up side of the moon changes as it orbits Earth, giving us different views of the moon each night.
The moon cycle lasts about 29.5 days
The moon cycle is one of the fascinating natural phenomena. Every month, the moon goes through a cycle of phases, each lasting about 29.5 days.
During this time, the moon’s appearance changes as it moves through the sky.
The first phase, known as the new moon, is when the moon is not visible in the sky.
As the moon continues to orbit Earth, it gradually becomes more visible until it reaches its full phase.
At this point, the entire surface of the moon is illuminated by sunlight. After the full moon phase, the moon begins to wane or decrease in size.
Finally, it reaches its last phase, known as the new moon.
The entire cycle then repeats itself. The moon cycle is an amazing example of how nature works in harmony with the celestial bodies.
The new moon phase is when the moon is not visible to us from Earth
The moon orbits around Earth and goes through different phases each month. The new moon phase is when the moon is not visible to us from Earth.
This occurs because the sun is illuminating the side of the moon that is facing away from us.
The new moon phase lasts for about three days, and then the moon starts to become visible again as it enters the waxing crescent phase.
During this time, the amount of light that the moon reflects increases until it reaches its full illumination in the full moon phase.
After the full moon, the lunar cycle repeats with the waning crescent and then new moon phases. Although we can’t see it, the new moon phase is an important part of the lunar cycle.
During a full moon phase, the entire surface of the moon is illuminated by the sun
A full moon occurs when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of Earth, with the moon in Earth’s shadow.
During a full moon phase, the entire surface of the moon is illuminated by the sun. This alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon causes tides on Earth to be higher than usual.
The full moon also has a number of myths and legends associated with it. For example, some people believe that werewolves transform during a full moon, while others believe that a full moon can cause madness.
However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, the full moon is simply a beautiful natural phenomenon that can be enjoyed by everyone.
We see different shapes of the lit portion of the moon
The moon is a pretty big deal. Not only does it provide us with light at night, but it also controls the tides and has been a source of inspiration for artists and poets for centuries.
The moon’s lit portion appears to change shape over the course of the month, going from a thin crescent to a full circle and back again.
This is because the moon’s orbit around Earth is not perfectly circular – it’s actually shaped more like an oval. As a result, the moon’s distance from Earth varies as it goes around its orbit.
When the moon is closer to Earth, we see more of the lit side of it. When it’s further away, we see less.
As the month progresses, we see the amount of lit surface area gradually increase until the moon is full.
And then, as the moon starts to move away from Earth again, we see the amount of lit surface area gradually decrease until there is just a thin crescent left.
So next time you look up at the moon, think about how its changing shape is due to its orbital path around Earth. And enjoy the view!
- Related post: What Would Happen If There Was No Moon
- Related post: How Long Does It Take to Get to the Moon
Final words
The moon goes through eight phases in its 29.5-day cycle, and the amount of light we see from it changes depending on its position relative to Earth.
These different phases can be seen as either a crescent, gibbous, quarter or waxing/waning half-moon.
The new moon phase is when the moon is not visible to us from Earth, while the full moon phase is when the entire surface of the moon is illuminated by the sun.
Between these two extremes are four other phases that can be seen as a crescent, gibbous, quarter, or waning/waxing half-moon.
