The Moon Created by a fiery planetary explosion about 400 billion years ago, the moon has comforted man for thousands of years. It's been everything from a god to a compass, and the only cosmic body human beings have ever visited. Explore some of the fascinating, surprising or simply bizarre theories that earthlings have entertained about the moon throughout history.
Walk a bout! At each station is something to read. Read and then respond to the question underneath the reading. Spend 1-2 minutes at each station, go to at least 2. When done, stand by the wall wait quietly for the next step.
Example Station
Step 2 Read 2 different myths After you read it, read the question and respond to someone else's comment (don t answer the question). Spend a few seconds reading what others wrote as well. STAY on topic show your integrity to the learning process! When done, sit in your seat.
Moon Myths? What do you think about what you just did? How or why do you think these myths occurred?
TEK 8.7B Demonstrate and predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycle Moon Phases or the Lunar Cycle
Your note outline page:
Moon Phases The phase of the moon you see depends on how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces Earth
The Moon The moon is the Earth s closest neighbor in space. On average the moon is 384, 400 kilometers from Earth. It is about ¼ the size of Earth
The Moon s Orbit The moon revolves around the Earth and rotates on its own axis Revolution Moon orbits the Earth every 27 1/3 days Rotation Moon turns on its axis every 28 days The same side of the moon always faces Earth
A Day (and year) on the Moon Because the moon revolves around the Earth at the same rate that it rotates on its axis, the moon s day and year are the almost the same amount of time! A day on the Moon lasts 29.5 of our Earth days. If you were standing on the surface of the Moon, it would take 29.5 days for the Sun to move entirely through the sky and return to its original position (one revolution around the sun is a year).
A day = A year? So a moon day is 27-1/2 earth days. That is also how long it takes for the moon to rotate around the earth. That's a moon year. So the length of time it takes for the moon to spin around on its axis once is the same amount of time it takes the moon to spin around the earth once.
Moon Day/Year Comparison: Day Definition of a day: Rotate once on an axis Earth rotates once = 1 day (24 hours) Moon rotates once = 27 earth days Year Definition of revolve: Move around another body Earth takes 1 year to revolve around the sun (365 days) Moon takes 29.5 (earth) days to revolve around earth So, a moon s day equals a moon s year (the difference is 2.2 days)!
The Moon s Face Draw a flag on each of the moons to demonstrate the fact that the same side of the moon always faces earth.
Near Side of the Moon You see this all of the time! Phases of the Moon
Far Side of the Moon You never see this! Phases of the Moon
Misconception: Dark Side of the Moon The Dark Side of the Moon should really be called the Far Side. The far side gets just as much light as the near side. For example, during a new moon, the near side of the Moon is dark, and the far side of the Moon is fully illuminated!
Moon Phases Moonlight is reflected sunlight Half the moon s surface is always reflecting light From Earth we see different amounts of the Moon s lit surface The amount seen is called a phase
FOUR MAIN SHAPES Shade in and label! FULL CRESCENT QUARTER GIBBOUS
Moon Phases New Moon Waxing Crescent 1 st Quarter Waxing Gibbous Full Moon Waning Gibbous 3rd Quarter Waning Crescent
Moon Phases Tips! The shadow on the moon always disappears from right to left when the moon is growing. If you can see the right side of the moon, then it is growing. The moon always disappear from left to right as well. So if you can see the left side then it is getting smaller.
Cyclical Phases of the Moon The moon goes through its whole set of phases each time it revolves around the Earth. As the moon revolves around the Earth, you see more and more of the lighted side of the moon. Moon Phase Animation
As the moon grows larger, towards becoming a full moon, it is called a waxing moon.
Words to Know Waxing To increase in size
As the moon grows smaller, away from being a full moon, it is called a waning moon.
Words to Know Waning Decrease in size
Earth s point of view: Start here!
Compare the top and bottom diagrams:
So What causes Phases? Caused by changes in the relative position of the moon, Earth, and the sun.
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New Moon When the moon is in between the sun and the Earth, we cannot see the moon. This is called a new moon.
Waxing Crescent When the moon is in between the new moon and the first quarter moon, we are only able to see a little sliver of the lighted side of the moon. This is called a crescent moon.
First Quarter When the moon is above or below the Earth, we can only see half of the lit area of the moon. This is called a quarter moon.
Waxing Gibbous When the moon is in between the first quarter moon and the full moon, we are able to see about ¾ of the lighted side of the moon. This is called a waxing gibbous.
Full Moon When the Earth is in between the moon and the sun, we see the whole part of the moon which is lit up by the sun. This is called a full moon.
When the moon is in between the full moon and the last quarter moon, we are able to see about ¾ of the lighted side of the moon. This is called a waning gibbous. Waning Gibbous
Third or Last Quarter When the moon is above or below the Earth, we can only see half of the lit area of the moon. This is called a quarter moon.
Waning Crescent When the moon is in between the new moon and the last quarter moon, we are only able to see a little sliver of the lighted side of the moon. This is called a crescent moon.
New Moon When the moon is in between the sun and the Earth, we cannot see the moon. This is called a new moon.
Completed notes and moon phases worksheet go into binder now!
Video for Review: Moon phases (crash course)