Earth, Moon, and Sun

1. Earth, Moon, and Sun

2. True or False? • The moon lets off its own light.

3. True or False? • The moon spins (rotates) on an axis.

4. True or False? • During a “New Moon,” the moon disappears.

5. True or False? • The moon changes shape.

6. True or False? • The moon stays in one place all the time.

7. True or False? • The moon can come in between the Earth and the sun.

8. The Moon • The moon is a satellite of Earth. A satellite is an object that moves around another object in space.

9. The Moon and Earth • The moon revolves around Earth in a certain path or orbit. • It takes a little more than 28 days for the moon to complete its orbit (about one month).

10. Why Does the Moon Shine? • The moon does not make its own light. • It reflects light from the sun. • The part that isn’t reflecting light is in shadow.

11. Looking at the Moon • Because the moon rotates on its own axis, we always see the same side of the moon.

12. Solar Eclipse • Sometimes the moon will come in between the sun and the Earth, and cast a shadow on the Earth. The sun will be covered and blocked out for a few minutes. This is called a solar eclipse.

13. Lunar Eclipse • Sometimes the Earth will come in between the sun and the moon, and cast a shadow on the moon. This is called a lunar eclipse.

14. Moon Phases • The moon reflects light from the sun. • Light bounces off parts of the moon based on where it is around the Earth. • The amount of light we see reflected is called a phase. • We see shadows and reflections.

15. Phases of the Moon

16. New Moon • When the moon is in between the sun and the Earth, we cannot see the moon. This part of the moon is in the shadow. • This is called a new moon.

17. Waxing Crescent • As the moon grows larger, towards becoming a full moon, it is called a waxing moon. • When the moon is in between the new moon and the half moon, we are only able to see a little sliver of the lighted side of the moon. • This is called a crescent moon.

18. First Quarter

19. Waxing Gibbous

20. 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.

21. Waning Gibbous • As the moon grows smaller, away from being a full moon, it is called a waning moon.

22. Last Quarter

23. Waning Crescent

24. New Moon • When the moon is in between the sun and the Earth, we cannot see the moon. This part of the moon is in the shadow. • This is called a new moon.

25. Moon Phases

26. Moon Phases

27. Moon Phases • Moving towards a full moon: waxing • Moving away towards a new moon: waning • Sliver of shadow: gibbous • Sliver of reflection: crescent • Half reflection and half shadow: quarter

28. True or False? • The moon lets off its own light. • False – It reflects the sun’s light.

29. True or False? • The moon spins (rotates) on an axis. • True, and it revolves around the Earth

30. True or False? • During a “New Moon,” the moon disappears. • False – We just see the side of the moon that is in shadow, so we don’t see it reflected at all.

31. True or False? • The moon changes shape. • False – It only appears to change shape. As it moves around the Earth, it reflects different amounts of light, showing us different phases.

32. True or False? • The moon stays in one place all the time. • False – The moon revolves around the Earth. Because it also rotates, we always see the same side of it.

33. True or False? • The moon can come in between the Earth and the sun. • True – This is called a solar eclipse, because it blocks out the sun for a few minutes.

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