G8 – Phases of the Moon (On Grade) – 03

As you continue, you mention how astronomers found one object in the night sky very curious. It provided some light to the night sky, but its pattern was different from the Sun, which was always up during the day and not present in the night sky. Night after night, this curious object appeared to change shape. It rose and set at different times, and some nights, it was completely absent from the night sky. Other times, it could be seen in the daytime, either early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. What was this curious object the astronomers wondered? Why was its pattern different than the other objects in the sky? Of course, we all now know this curious object as our Moon, Luna.

When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, the side facing Earth is completely dark. Only the side of the Moon facing away from Earth is illuminated by the Sun. This phase of the moon is called the New Moon phase. About seven days later, it is one-quarter of the way around Earth, so in this position it is called a Quarter Moon. During this phase we see the Moon as a half-circle.

After seven more days, the Moon is halfway through its orbit, and you can now see the Moon fully lit in the night sky. This phase is called the Full Moon, when the whole face of the Moon is illuminated. This phase occurs when Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, forming a straight line.