The Moon Flashcards
What causes the moon to move in an orbit around earth
Gravitational pull
What causes the phases of the moon, eclipse and tides
The changing relative positions of the moon,earth and sun
Phases
Different forms the moon takes in its appearance from Earth
New moon
When the moon is betw the earth and sun and can’t be seen
Waxing phases
More of the moons near side is lit each night
Waxing crescent
First thin slice of moon
First quarter
Half the lighted side of moon is visible
Waxing gibbous
More than one quarter is visible
Full moon
All the moons light side is visible
Waning phases
Less of the illuminated half of the moon is visible after full moon
Waning gibbous
More than one half a lit side of the moon is visible
Third quarter
Only half of the lit side is visible
Waning crescent
Last visible slice before new moon
Eclipse
When the earth or the moon casts a shadow on the other
Solar eclipse
When the moons shadow appears on earths surface
Lunar eclipse
When the moon moves into earths shadow
Mare
Dark flat areas formed from lava 3-4 thousand yrs ago
Crater
Large round pits caused by impacts of meteoroids
Highlands
Oldest most highly cratered regions on the moon
