1. The Moon

2. Moon Facts The moon is the only natural satellite of Earth.
The moon is the brightest object in the night sky.
The Moon is on average km from Earth

3. The Moon rotates around its axis and orbits around Earth at the SAME RATE, once every 29.5 days.
This means that the same side of the Moon is always facing Earth!
The Moon's surface is heavily marked with impact craters. So many are visible because the Moon has no atmosphere or surface water, so the craters do not weather as they do here on Earth.

4. Tides
The Moon and its gravitational pull are the cause of the oceans tides. Twice each day the ocean's waters rise or fall with the pull of the Moon. The sun’s gravity also contributes to the size of the tides.

5. Highest Tides in the World
The highest tides in the world occur in The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia

6. Phases of the Moon
How the Moon appears to us depends on the position of  the Earth, Moon and Sun.
There are four main phases of the Moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter.
Each phase of the Moon last for about one week.

7. Phases 5. Waning Gibbous 1. Waxing Crescent 6. 3rd Quarter
2. 1st Quarter
7. Waning Crescent
3. Waxing Gibbous
4. Full Moon

8. Why do we see different Phases?

9. Lunar Eclipse
When the moon passes ‘behind’ the Earth it can pass through the
Earth’s shadow. There are two parts to the Earth’s shadow.
The penumbra is the ‘lighter’ part of the Earth’s shadow.
The umbra is the ‘darkest’ part of the Earth’s shadow.

10. Total Eclipse
If the moon passes through the umbra when viewed from Earth
It is called a total eclipse.
At totality the moon will appear red in colour. This is due to red light being refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere and hitting the moon.

11. Partial Eclipse
If the moon passes through the penumbra and not through the
umbra (or only through part of the umbra) when viewed from
Earth, it is called a partial eclipse.
Because the moon’s orbit
is tilted by 15o relative to
the Earth, we don’t get a
lunar eclipse every revolution.
But they still occur fairly regularly.
Seeing an eclipse will also depend on
where you are on Earth when it occurs.