MoonFacts

• The moon is 238,857 miles from the earth.

• The moon has no atmosphere so there is no weather on this natural satellite.

• The moon revolves around the earth about once every 27 1/3 days. (Sidereal month)

• The same side of the moon always faces the earth. (geosynchronous orbit)

Race to the Moon

• May 25th, 1961 President Kennedy Challenges NASA to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Race to the Moon

• July 20th, 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the moon.

Moon Phases

Half of the Moon is always lit up by the sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different parts of the lighted area.

The revolution of the Moon around the Earth makes the Moon look as if it is changing shape in the sky. 

This is caused by the different angles from which we see the lighted part of the Moon's surface. 

These are called "phases" of the Moon. 

Third quarter

The Moon passes through four major shapes during a cycle that repeats itself every 29.5 days. (synodic month) The phases always follow one another in the same order:

• New moon – lighted side faces away from Earth

• First quarter – right side appears is lighted, appearing larger each day until the full moon.

• Full moon – lighted side of the Moon faces the Earth.  This means that the Earth, Sun, and Moon are nearly in a straight line, with the Earth in the middle.  The Moon that we see is very bright from the sunlight reflecting off it.

• Third quarter – left side appears lighted, appearing smaller each day until the new moon.

Other terms to describe the moon phases

• Waxing – when the moon’s light is increasing each day.

• Waning – when the moon’s light is decreasing each day.

• Crescent – Less than half of the side of the moon facing Earth appears lit.

• Gibbous – more than half of the side facing Earth appears lit.

New Moon

What We See

Waxing Crescent

What We See

First Quarter

What We See

WaxingGibbous

What We See

Full Moon

What We See

Waning Gibbous

What We See

Last Quarter

What We See

WaningCrescent

What We See