Moon phases

You will need to keep BOTH this page and the simulation page open at all times!!!!

You can also click here to open the sim in a new window, full screen.

Online HW basics:

• You cannot submit partially completed assignments.
• If you close window, you WILL lose all completed answers
• You cannot save, unfortunately. I suggest you write your answers down and them submit.

Moon phases basics:

• The moon is always half illuminated by the sun
• it keeps the same side facing us, which means it HAS to rotate. It takes 27.3 days to do a complete rotation (sidereal month) and 29.5 days to return to new moon (lunar or synodic month)
• the phases depend on the Moon's position in relation to the Earth and Sun
• phases begin at the New phase

Objective:

• manipulate the Earth-Moon-Sun system in order to better understand lunar phases
• understand the relationship between the lunar position and our view
• observe orbital relationships

Click on the picture