Term | Definition |
What causes the moon's phases? | the changing relative positions of the moon, earth, and sun cause the phases of the moon |
Phases | different shapes or the moon you see from earth |
First stage of the moon | new moon none of the moon is visible from earth |
Second stage of the moon | waxing crescent little crescent is shown on the left |
Third stage of the moon | first quarter the left half is visible |
Fourth stage of the moon | waxing gibbous you can see a bigger crescent on the left |
Fifth stage of the moon | full moon you can see a full circle of the moon |
Sixth stage of the moon | waning gibbous you can see a bigger crescent on the right |
Seventh stage of the moon | third quarter the right side is visible |
Eight stage of the moon | waning crescent you can see a small crescent on the right side |
What are Eclipses? | there are two types of eclipses solar and lunar |
Solar Eclipse | occurs when the moon passes directly between earth and the sun blocking sunlight |
Umbra | very dark part of the moon's shadow |
Total Solar eclipse | the sky becomes an eerie color an you can see stares and the solar corona |
Solar Corona | the faint outer atmosphere of the sun |
Penumbra | large part of the moon's shadow that is less dark than the umbra |
Lunar Eclipse | occurs at a full moon when earth is directly between the moon and the sun |
Total Lunar Eclipse | when the moon is in earth's umbra and can be seen anywhere |
Which is more likely a total lunar or solar eclipse | solar |
Partial Lunar Eclipse | occurs when the moon passes partly into the umbra of earth's shadows |