1. Myths about the Moon The Moon is made of cheese! There is a Man in the Moon. The Moon and the Sun chase each other across the sky. The Moon disappears during certain days of the month. There are men or other creatures living on the Moon. The Moon was put in the sky by a person or animal. The Moon is a living creature or a god. The Moon controls how we act and how we feel. During a full moon, some people turn into werewolves. The Moon is pulled across the sky by a person, animal, or force.

2. Moon – our closest natural neighbor The Earth’s only natural satellite Orbit around the Earth is elliptical Average distance from the earth to the moon is 384,403 kilometers (238,857 miles) – 30 times the diameter of the Earth Diameter of 3,474 km, ¼ of the Earth Gravity 1/6 of the earth

3. Moon’s orbit The orbit period around the earth – 27.3 days The rotation period is exactly the same! We always see the same side of the moon! The period of Lunar Phase – 29.5 days Because of the Earth’s revolution in space

4. Near Side Far Side

5. Moon and Its Phases Does the mood give off its own light? No! It reflects light from the sun When you see the moon in the sky, what do you see? Sometimes round, thin sliver, or crescent Why does the moon change phases? Due to the Moon’s orbital positions The phase you see depends on how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces Earth

6. The Moon’s Orbit around the Earth

8. Phases of the Moon

9. Phases of the Moon (different view)

10. Phases of the Moon Check out this fun way to remember the phases of the moon. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79 M2lSVZiY4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79 M2lSVZiY4

11. Eclipses Have you seen eclipses? What are eclipses in nature? –One celestial object casts its shadow on the other one

12. Solar Eclipses Sun – the shadow of the moon on the earth Total solar eclipse in 1999

13. A – total eclipse B – annular eclipse C – partial eclipse

14. Lunar Eclipses Moon – the shadow of the Earth on the moon

16. Lunar Eclipse