The Moon’s Appearance Changes As It Orbits Earth

Question 1

At what rate does the moon rotate?

Answer 1

Once every 27 days, or once every revolution

Question 2

Synchronous rotation

Answer 2

Period of rotation equals period of revolution. i.e. the moon.

Question 3

Why does the moon rotate synchronously?

Answer 3

The moon is lopsided, so its bulge is always closer to earth.

Question 4

Does the moon have a dark side?

Answer 4

No. There is not a side of the moon that is always in the dark. However, there is a side of the moon that we do not see.

Question 5

New moon

Answer 5

Dark moon. This moon rises with the sun at sunrise, crosses the meridian near noon, and sets in the west with the sun.

Question 6

Waxing crescent

Answer 6

Crescent on the right side of the moon.

Question 7

First quarter moon

Answer 7

Right half illuminated

Question 8

Waxing gibbous moon

Answer 8

Almost all the way lit.

Question 9

Full moon

Answer 9

All of the moon is lit.
This moon is opposite the sun in the sky.

Question 10

Waning gibbous

Answer 10

Right side slightly dark

Question 11

Third quarter moon

Answer 11

Left half is lit.

Question 12

Waning crescent Moon

Answer 12

Crescent on the left side

Question 13

Eclipse

Answer 13

Shadow of one astronomical body falls on another

Question 14

Solar eclipse

Answer 14

When the moon casts a shadow on the earth

Question 15

Total solar eclipse

Answer 15

Moon completely blocks the sun

Question 16

Partial solar eclipse

Answer 16

Moon partially covers the disk of the sun

Question 17

Annular solar eclipse

Answer 17

When the moon goes in front of the sun when it is slightly farther away from earth in its noncircular orbit, so it appears smaller in the sky and covers less of the sun.

Question 18

Lunar eclipse

Answer 18

When the moon is partially or entirely in the earth’s shadow
Can last as long as 1 hr 40 min

Question 19

Why is the moon red during a lunar eclipse

Answer 19

It’s illuminated by red light from the sun that is bent as it travels through the earth’s atmosphere and hits the moon

Question 20

The moon’s orbit

Answer 20

• 5 percent incline with respect to the plane of earth’s orbit around the sun.