1. The Cincinnati Observatory
Presents…

2. MOON Phases,
Eclipses, and Missions

3. Can you put these in
their proper order? 2 1 3 4 5 6

5. 4 5 2 3 6 1

14. WAXING = getting bigger

32. Full
Waning
Gibbous
Waxing
Gibbous
Third
Quarter
First
Quarter
Waning
Crescent
Waxing
Crescent
New

35. How long does it take the Moon to revolve around the Earth?
There are two ways of measuring a month
depending on your point of reference
Sidereal Month – 27.3 days
Synodic Month – 29.5 days

36. Sidereal Month – 27.3 days Synodic Month – 29.5 days
The sidereal month is the time it takes for
the Moon to complete one revolution around
the Earth and return to the same position
among the stars.
Synodic Month – 29.5 days
The synodic month is the time it takes for
the Moon to complete one moon phase cycle.

37. To Sun
At this position,
the Moon is full

38. From the Earth the Moon appears amidst the distant background stars
To Sun
From the Earth the Moon appears
amidst the distant background stars
For example, let’s say that the Moon
is near the bright star Regulus
To Regulus

39. After 27.3 days, the Earth has moved a significant distance
To Sun
After 27.3 days, the Earth has
moved a significant distance
in its orbit around the Sun
To Regulus

40. Moon has orbited the Earth and returned to its place
In that time period, the
Moon has orbited the Earth
and returned to its place
in front of Regulus
That 27.3 days is a
SIDEREAL Month
To Regulus

41. Last time that the Moon was near Regulus it was a full Moon
To Sun
But this time, the Moon
is not quite full
To Regulus

42. …And then go a little further to catch up with the Earth
To return to a full
Moon, the Moon must
orbit the Earth once…
To Sun
…And then go a little further
to catch up with the Earth
To Regulus

43. That extra distance the Moon has to travel takes about two days
To Sun
That 29.5 days is a
SYNODIC Month
To Regulus

44. Synodic Month – 29.5 days The synodic month is the time it takes for
the Moon to complete one moon phase cycle.

45. Let’s make a scale model
of the Earth and the Moon
If this is total mass of the
Earth and Moon, how many
of the 50 spheres would go
into making the Earth?
And how many would go
into making the Moon?

46. 49 of them
make up the
Earth
1 of them
makes up the
Moon

47. Solar Eclipses only occur when the Moon is NEW

48. A Partial Solar Eclipse at Sunset

49. visible from Cincinnati was on April 8, 2005
The last Solar Eclipse
visible from Cincinnati was on
April 8, 2005
Only a tiny part
of the Sun was
covered by the Moon

50. Also April 8, 2005

51. A Total Eclipse

52. The Sun’s diameter is 400 times that of the Moon
How can the Moon
block it out?
Moon

53. The Sun’s diameter is 400 times that of the Moon
The Sun is also 400
times farther away
than the Moon
Moon

54. So the Sun and Moon appear to be the exact same size in the sky
And when they line up perfectly…

55. And when they line up perfectly…

62. The shadow of the Moon over Antarctica

63. The 2nd Diamond Ring
(That means it’s over)

64. But be patient, we will have three
Total Solar Eclipses in America in a
very short period of time.
August 21, 2017
April 8, 2024
August 12, 2045

65. An Annular Eclipse

67. The last Total Lunar Eclipses visible from Cincinnati:
May 15, 2003
November 8, 2003
October 27, 2004
March 3, 2007
August 28, 2007
February 20, 2008

69. Lunar Eclipses only occur when the Moon is FULL

70. Notice the rounded shadow
of the EARTH

71. The Next Total Lunar Eclipse:
December 21, 2010

72. The Ultimate Eclipse Websites!!!
Fred Espenak’s Eclipse Home Page
Mr. Eclipse
Scroll down to section called Interactive
Click on Inconstant Moon

74. The Apollo Missions to the Moon

75. Crash Landing on the Moon
50 feet of nylon rope
Box of matches
Two 100 pound oxygen tanks
Dehydrated milk
Self inflating life raft
Two pistols
Star map
Radio transmitter/receiver
Magnetic compass
Chemical signal flares
Parachute
Five gallons of water
Dehydrated food
First aid kit
Solar powered heater

76. Crash Landing on the Moon
feet of nylon rope
15 Box of matches
1 Two 100 pound oxygen tanks
12 Dehydrated milk
10 Self inflating life raft
11 Two pistols
4 Star map
3 Radio transmitter/receiver
14 Magnetic compass
6 Chemical signal flares
7 Parachute
2 Five gallons of water
5 Dehydrated food
First aid kit
13 Solar powered heater

77. Neil Was Here

78. Buzz Was
Here Too!

79. The Gravity on the Moon

80. Just Going
Out For
A Stroll

81. The Right Way to Walk on the Moon

82. The Right Way to Walk on the Moon

83. The Right Way to Walk on the Moon

84. The Wrong Way to Walk on the Moon

85. The Wrong Way to Walk on the Moon

86. The Wrong Way to Walk on the Moon

87. Nice Ride!
The New 1971 Lunar Rover

88. Let’s Take It Out For A Test Drive

89. Apollo 17 Leaving the Moon for the Last Time

90. “The Eagle Has Landed”

91. First Step on the Moon

92. Galileo’s Theory Finally Tested

93. A “Demonstration”

94. The Cincinnati Observatory
Dean Regas