Term | Definition |
New Moon | None of the moon is visible. |
First Quarter | Exactly half of the Earth-facing moon is visible. The visible part of the moon is growing |
Full Moon | The entire side of the Moon facing the Earth is visible |
Third Quarter | Exactly half of the Earth-facing moon is visible. The visible part of the moon is shrinking |
Waning | The visible moon is getting smaller |
Waxing | The visible moon is getting larger |
Gibbous | The moon is more than half but less then full |
Crescent | The moon is less than half way full |
Lunar Eclipse | The moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. The order is sun, Earth, moon |
Solar Eclipse | The moon moves between the sun and the Earth. The order is sun, Earth, moon |
Corona | The outer part of the sun that is only visible during a solar eclipse |
Gravity | The force of attraction between objects, it keeps objects in orbit |
Tides | The daily changes in the level of the oceans and other large bodies of water |
High Tides | They occur on the side of the Earth facing the moon and on the opposite side. The water level is higher in these locations. |
Low Tides | They occur between the locations of the high tides. The water is pulled away from these locations so the water level is low. |
Neap Tide | Tides that have the smallest daily tidal range. They happen when the sun, Earth, and moon form a 90 degree angle. |
Spring Tide | Tides that have the largest daily tidal range. They happen when the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned. |
Waning Crescent | Less than half of the left side of the moon's circle is lit. The lighted part is growing smaller. |
Waxing Crescent | Less than half of the right side of the moon's circle is lit. The lighted part is growing larger. |
Waxing Gibbous | More than half of the right half of the moon's circle is lit, but the moon is still less than full. |
Waning Gibbous | The moon's left side is less than full but more than a quarter. |
Umbra | The dark inner shadow of an object where the light is totally blocked |
Penumbra | The lighter outer shadow where the light is only partially blocked |