U4 L2 Moon Phases & Eclipses Lesson

• The Earth and moon orbit the sun.

  • Gravity: The force exerted by all bodies with mass that pulls other objects with mass toward themselves. 

• The Moon orbits Earth.

  • The pull of Earth’s gravity keeps the moon in orbit around the Earth.

  • Sometimes the moon gets between the Earth and sun.

  • Only one side of the moon can be seen from Earth because the moon turns once on its axis each time it orbits Earth.

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SMALL COMPANION

If you set a single green pea next to a U.S. nickel, you'd have a pretty good idea of the size of the Moon compared to Earth.

How are the Earth, the moon, and the sun related in space?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following keeps the moon in orbit around Earth?

• gravity

• magnetism

• ocean's tides

• the sun's heat and light

Drag and Drop

The Earth-moon system orbits the ​

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. The moon takes about one ​

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to orbit Earth.

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sun

month

The moon does not create its own light; It is reflecting sunlight. 

The moon takes 27.3 days to orbit the Earth.

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We only see one side of the moon, the near side, since the moon orbits and rotates at the same speed.

What does the moon look like from Earth?

​The Earth and Moon are tidally locked. Their rotations are so in sync we only see one side of the Moon. Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spacecraft flew past in 1959.

Drag and Drop

The ​

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of the moon depends on the the ​

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of the sun, the moon and ​

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. The fraction of the moon that receives sunlight ​

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changes.

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appearance

positions

Earth

never

More than 105 robotic spacecraft have been launched to explore the Moon. It is the only celestial body beyond Earth – so far – visited by human beings.

How does the appearance of the moon change?

• Lunar phase

  • The different appearances of the moon due to its changing position relative to the sun and Earth. 

• Lunar phases cycle monthly

  • New moon = the moon is between the Earth and sun. 

  • The moon waxes until a full moon is seen. 

  • Full moon = Earth between the sun and moon.

  • Moon wanes until a new moon is seen.

Multiple Choice

The moon orbits the Earth in a ______ motion.

• clockwise

• counterclockwise

Multiple Choice

The cycle of the moon’s phases repeats in a

predictable way. About how long does it take to

cycle from one new moon to the next new

moon?

• about one day

• about one week

• about one month

• about one year

Multiple Choice

Which phase happens immediately after a third

quarter moon?

• new moon

• waxing gibbous

• waning gibbous

• waning crescent

• When the entire moon passes through Earth’s shadow. 

• A total lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. 

• A partial lunar eclipse occurs when part of the moon stays lit.

Lunar Eclipses

Drag and Drop

Eclipses are predictable, solar system events. The answer choices below list relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. Arrange the order of the position of Earth, the sun, and the moon during a lunar eclipse?

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sun

earth

moon

• Happens when the moon’s shadow falls onto part of Earth. 

• A total eclipse is seen by people who are at locations within the umbra

Solar Eclipses

Multiple Choice

When Earth moves into the moon’s shadow, a

solar eclipse takes place. Which phase represents

the appearance of the moon during a solar

eclipse?

• full moon

• new moon

• third quarter

• first quarter