Day 1: Phases of the Moon
On a hot day would it be better to wear a white shirt or black shirt? Why?
Light colors REFLECT light,
Dark colors ABSORB light.
Where does the moon get its light from?
Moon Light comes from the SUN!
The moon is made of light colored rock and minerals (silicon, magnesium, iron, etc!)
Since the moon’s color is light, it REFLECTS light from the sun!
The light we see is the sun’s light, not the moon creating its own light.
But the moon’s shape changes! Why don’t we always have a full moon?
Remember: The Moon Revolves and Rotates!
The moon completes 1 revolution around the Earth every 27.3 days. (about 1 month)
The moon rotates on its axis ONCE every 27.3 days, which means from Earth, we only see one side of the moon.
In your Learning Log Draw this Model:
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Moon
Based on the sun’s location, shade part of the moon that is NOT reflecting light.
S
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Moon
Your model should look like this!
S
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Moon
How much of the moon is visible from Earth?
Is this different from what’s visible from space?
S
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Moon
Draw a Line on EACH moon showing how much is visible from Earth
S
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Moon
Can Not Be Seen from Earth
Can Be Seen from Earth
Now Draw lines to show what a person on Earth would see.
S
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Moon
Number your Moons
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5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
Based on the view from Earth, which Number Moon would be a FULL moon?
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FULL MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
LABEL THE FULL MOON AND DRAW IT NEXT TO #5
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FULL MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
Based on the view from Earth, which Number Moon would be a NEW moon?
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NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
LABEL THE NEW MOON AND DRAW IT NEXT TO #1
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
The New Moon is the Start of a NEW Lunar Cycle!
Over the course of a month, the Moon will slowly turn into a full Moon!
NEW MOON
Day 2: Phases of the Moon
Review the model we made last class
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
When the Moon is filling with light and getting brighter, we say it is WAXING!
WAXING = MAXING
FULL MOON
NEW MOON
WAXING = MAXING
I like to think of it as when you wax a car it’s making it shiny and BRIGHT!
When the Moon’s light is fading or draining, we say it is WANING!
WANING = DRAINING
FULL MOON
NEW MOON
Definition of Wane: Decrease in Strength
So the moon’s brightness is decreasing in strength or WANING!
WANING = DRAINING
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
WANING
WAXING
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
At 2 points in the moon’s orbit, people on Earth see only a QUARTER of the moon
Which one is in the WAXING phase?
Which one is in the WANING phase?
Use your model and check perspective to help you!
WAXING
WANING
The half moon that we see during the Waxing Phase is called the
FIRST QUARTER!
The half moon that we see during the Waning Phase is called the
THIRD QUARTER!
Why third and not second quarter?
Based on the view from Earth, which Number Moon would be the FIRST QUARTER moon?
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
FIRST QUARTER
S
E
FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
1ST QUARTER
3RD QUARTER
Gibbous is when the moon is more than half full, but less than all the way full!
Waxing Gibbous
Waning Gibbous
Based on the view from Earth, which Numbers would be the Gibbous moons?
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
1ST QUARTER
3RD QUARTER
S
E
FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
1ST QUARTER
3RD QUARTER
WANING GIBBOUS
WAXING GIBBOUS
Crescent is when the moon is LESS than half full!
Waxing Crescent
Waning Crescent
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FULL MOON
NEW MOON
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
1ST QUARTER
3RD QUARTER
WANING GIBBOUS
WAXING GIBBOUS
WANING CRESCENT
WAXING CRESCENT