The Moon

Position The moon rotates on an axis and revolves around the Earth, just as the Earth does the sun. 1 rotation = 1 revolution = 27.3 days; Because of this, we always see the same side of the Moon. The Moon’s orbit around the Earth is tilted (about 5°)when compared to the Earth’s obit around the sun, which is why we have so few eclipses.

"Moon Earth Comparison". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_Earth_Comparison.png#/media/File:Moon_Earth_Comparison.png

Moonlight The Moon does not create its own light. The Moon reflects about 3% of the sunlight that hits it. Half of the moon is always lit by the sun. We cannot always see this entire half.

Galileo Galileo’s drawings of the phases of the moon "Galileo moon phases" by Galileo - Unknown. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galileo_moon_phases.jpg#/media/File:Galileo_moon_phases.jpg

Moon Phases This is what we see as the Moon orbits the Earth. "Lunar libration with phase2" by Tomruen - English Wikipedia, original upload 7 September 2005 by Tomruen [1]. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunar_libration_with_phase2.gif#/media/File:Lunar_libration_with_phase2.gif

Phases When we cannot see any of the lit side of the moon, it is called a ‘New Moon.’ As more of the lit side of the moon becomes visible, we say the moon is waxing. The moon is ‘waxing’ until it becomes a full moon.

Phases When we begin to see the side of the moon that is lit, we say it is crescent.

Phases When exactly half is lit, it is called the 1st quarter moon. "Half Moon" by Aconcagua (talk) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Half_Moon.jpg#/media/File:Half_Moon.jpg

Phases When more than half is lit, but less than full, we say it is gibbous. "Phase of the moon NO.13" by 阿爾特斯 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phase_of_the_moon_NO.13.jpg#/media/File:Phase_of_the_moon_NO.13.jpg

Phases After the full moon we say the Moon is waning, or we are seeing less and less of the lit side. Now waning, the phases pass through gibbous, 3rd quarter, and crescent, and back to new moon.

Eclipses An eclipse occurs when either the Sun, Earth, and Moon are all aligned. There are 2 different kinds of eclipses. When the Moon blocks light from reaching the Earth, it is called a solar eclipse. When the Earth blocks light from reaching the Moon, it is called a lunar eclipse.

Solar Eclipse "Anello di diamante" by Walty1971 - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anello_di_diamante.jpg#/media/File:Anello_di_diamante.jpg

Lunar Eclipse "Lunar Eclipse 200802210349" by Dethme0w at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunar_Eclipse_200802210349.png#/media/File:Lunar_Eclipse_200802210349.png

The Moon’s Orbit The Moon's Orbit is Tilted!!! This is why we don't often have eclipses!