Moon Phases and Eclipses Vocabulary

Question 1

When the moon is past full moon and moving towards a new moon.

Answer 1

Waning

Question 2

When the moon is past new moon and moving towards a full moon.

Answer 2

Waxing

Question 3

When the moon is past either a new moon or a full moon and only a sliver is seen.

Answer 3

Crescent

Question 4

When the half moon is lit from the right side from our view on Earth.

Answer 4

First Quarter

Question 5

When the half moon is lit from the left side from our view on Earth.

Answer 5

Third Quarter

Question 6

When the moon is past a first or third quarter.

Answer 6

Gibbous

Question 7

The side of the moon facing the Earth and is not illuminated.

Answer 7

New moon

Question 8

When you can observe the entire face of the moon from Earth.

Answer 8

Full moon

Question 9

Occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight from Earth.

Answer 9

Solar eclipse

Question 10

Occurs at a full moon when the Earth is directly between the Moon and the Sun. During this, Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. The Moon’s reddish tint occurs because Earth’s atmosphere bends some sunlight toward the moon.

Answer 10

Lunar eclipse

Question 11

The very darkest part of the moon’s shadow and is cone-shaped.

Answer 11

Umbra

Question 12

Another part of the moon’s shadow, less dark than the umbra.

Answer 12

Penumbra

Question 13

The line separating the unlighted and lighted sides of the moon.

Answer 13

Terminator

Question 14

The brightness of the moon is a ____ from the light of the sun.

Answer 14

Reflection

Question 15

The different shapes of the moon are called ____.

Answer 15

Phases

Question 16

When the moon’s shadow hits Earth or Earth’s shadow hits the moon, an ___ occurs.

Answer 16

Eclipse