Question | Answer |
Atmosphere | The moon has no atmosphere
Temps very from 299°F on the side facing away from the sun to 417° |
Dark areas on the surface | These are plains that were flooded by basalt after huge astroid or comment
Basalt is hard is grey/black igneous rock |
Light areas on surface | These are high lands or mountains that were formed from the impact of smaller repetitive astroids |
Why are they called phases of the moon | "Phase" comes from a Greek word meaning |
dark moon | Day 0:
This occurs when the moon and sun are on the same side of the moon is between the sun and the earth and lost in the suns glare we see the side which is not lit |
Waxing crescent | Day 4:
Wax means increasing or growing larger |
First quarter | Day 7:
Occurs when the moon has completed one quarter of an orbit around Earth therefore it's 90° away from the sun. Half of the moon surface is visible from the earth. To the right side is right of northern hemisphere. |
Waxing gibbous | Day 10:
This is a very bright moon. Gibbous comes from a root word that means humpbacked. Notice the humpback shape of moon |
Full moon | Day 14:
The full moon is when the earth is between the sun and the moon. The moon is MIDWAY around in its orbit. A full moon is the only phase that shines the whole night through |
Waning gibbous | Day 18:
Waning means decreasing are growing smaller |
Third-quarter | Day 22:
The moon has now moved 270° away from the sun in its orbit around Earth. Half of the moon surface is a lit on the left side. This moon is only seen late late late late at night |
Waning Crescent | Day 26:
If crescent is lit on the western side of the moon |
Is there really a dark side of the moon | No! The sun's light shines on all sides of the moon as it rotates on its axis |
Does one side never receive light | Because of the moons rotation, earth people NEVER see one side of the moon, but the sun does shine on this side during a new moon |
Why are the names first quarter and third quarter misleading | During these 2 phases the appearance of both is a half moon
First and third quarter refer to its position in its orbit around the earth |