Full Moon

FULL MOON The Phase of Moon

1. Fact: When we see the moon, we are looking at the part of the moon that is reflecting light from the sun. 2.  Fact:  It takes the moon an average of 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. 3. Fact:  If the moon is SMALLER than a QUARTER, we call it CRESCENT. 4.  Fact:  If the moon is BIGGER than a QUARTER, we call it GIBBOUS.  5.  Fact:  When the moon is

6.  Fact:  When the moon is GETTING SMALLER, it is WANING.  [The part of the moon that we see will appear to be the LEFT side of the moon.] 7. Fact:  If the CRESCENT of the moon LOOKS LIKE THE LETTER C, the  moon is SHRINKING (WANING).  8.  Fact:  If the CRESCENT of the moon CURVES LIKE THE LETTER D, the  moon is getting bigger (Waxing). 9.  Fact:  The New Moon can hardly be seen

New Moon • When the Moon is roughly in the same direction as the Sun, its illuminated half is facing away from the Earth, and therefore the part that faces us is all dark: we have the new moon. When in this phase, the Moon and the Sun rise and set at about the same

Waxing Crescent Moon • The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing

First Quarter • One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing

  Waxing Gibbous • The Moon appears to be more than onehalf but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing

Full Moon • The Moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight

Waning Gibbous • The Moon appears to be more than onehalf but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing

Last Quarter • One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing

Waning Crescent • The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing

New Moon • Phase Cycle starts over