Phases and Eclipses

Question 0

New moon

Answer 0

The side of the moon facing the Earth is not illuminated. Additionally, the moon is up through out the day, and down through out the night. For these reasons we can not see the moon during this phase

Question 1

Phases

Answer 1

One of the different apparent shapes of the moon as seen from earth

Question 2

Waxing cresent

Answer 2

During this phase, part of the Moon is beginning to show. This lunar sliver can be seen each evening for a few minutes just after sunset. We say that the Moon is “waxing” because each night a little bit more is visible for a little bit longer

Question 3

First quarter

Answer 3

During first quarter, 1/2 of the moon is visible for the first half of the evening, and then goes down, leaving the sky very dark

Question 4

Waxing gibbous

Answer 4

When most of the Moon is visible we say it is a Gibbous Moon. Observers can see all but a little sliver of the moon. During this phase, the Moon remains in the sky most of the night

Question 5

Third/last quarter

Answer 5

During a Last Quarter Moon we can see exactly 1/2 of the Moon’s lighted surface

Question 6

Waning crescent

Answer 6

Finally, during a Waning Crescent Moon, observers on Earth can only see a small sliver of the Moon, and only just before morning. Each night less of the Moon is visible for less time

Question 7

Eclipse

Answer 7

The partial to total blocking of one object in space by another

Question 8

Solar eclipse

Answer 8

The blocking of sunlight to earth that occurs when the moon is directly between the sun and earth

Question 9

Lunar eclipse

Answer 9

The blocking of sunlight to the moon that occurs when earth is directly between the sun and the moon