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S-7-9-3 - Moon Phases Worksheet and KEY

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52 views3 pages

S-7-9-3 - Moon Phases Worksheet and KEY

Uploaded by

jaceylovemango
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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S-7-9-3_Moon Phases Worksheet and KEY

Moon Phases

Why does the Moon keep changing its shape every night? Unlike the Sun, the Moon does not
produce its own light. The light we see from the Moon is reflected from the Sun’s light.

The Sun only shines on one side of the Moon at a time. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we can
see different parts of the light side, depending on the locations of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. It
takes the Moon 27.3 days to orbit the Earth. The changes we see in the Moon are called moon
phases.

When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of Earth, we can see the full moon, because we
see the whole sunlit side. When the Moon is directly in between Earth and the Sun, we cannot
see the Moon at all; it is a new moon. It takes two weeks for the Moon to travel halfway around
the Earth in its orbit, from full moon to new moon. After the full moon the moon is waning as it
grows smaller; this is a crescent moon. After the new moon, it is waxing as it grows bigger; this
is a gibbous moon.

The Moon Cycle

Let’s start with the new moon. We cannot see it because the
light side of the Moon is facing away from Earth.

A few days later, we see a waxing crescent moon.

When it is 1/4 of the way around Earth, we can see half of the
moon. This is called the first quarter.

When the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, we see a
full moon.

When it is 3/4 of the way around Earth, we can see half of the
moon again. This is called the third quarter.

A few days later, we see a waning crescent moon.

The cycle begins again with the new moon.


Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_phase_4.svg
S-7-9-3_Moon Phases Worksheet and KEY

Moon Phases Worksheet

Part 1. Fill in the blanks with the missing words.

1. The Moon’s light is ________________ from the Sun.

2. As the Moon _____________ the Earth, we can see different parts of its sunlit side.

3. Changes we see in the moon are called _______________________.

4. We cannot see the ___________________ moon.

5. When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, we see the ________________
moon.

6. As the Moon appears to be growing larger, we say it is ______________.

7. As the Moon appears to be growing smaller, we say it is ________________.

8. It takes _______________ for the Moon to orbit the Earth.

Part 2. Draw the Moon phases.


What would the Moon look like from the Earth at each of these positions?
Fill in the dark part that would be in shadow in black. Label each moon phase.

EARTH SUN
S-7-9-3_Moon Phases Worksheet and KEY

ANSWER KEY
Moon Phases Worksheet

Part 1. Fill in the blanks with the missing words.

1. The Moon’s light is reflected from the Sun.

2. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we can see different parts of its sunlit side.

3. Changes we see in the moon are called moon phases.

4. We cannot see the new moon.

5. When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, we see the full moon.

6. As the Moon appears to be growing larger, we say it is waxing.

7. As the Moon appears to be growing smaller, we say it is waning.

8. It takes 27.3 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth.

Part 2. Draw the Moon phases.


What would the Moon look like from the Earth at each of these positions?
Fill in the dark part that would be in shadow in black.

Source: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/StarChild/icons/moon_from_earth.gif

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