✓ phases of moon
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Explanation:
As the moon revolves around the planet Earth, the half porction of the moon that faces the sun will be lit up. The moon will be lit up because of the sun's light. The different shapes of the lit part of the moon that is visible from our planet i.e. Earth are known as the moon phases.
Firstly, the moon keeps changing its shape with 4 distinct moon phases that depend on the position of the moon and also on the position of the Earth. The moon orbits around the planet Earth, and the Earth orbits around the sun.
However, four main moon phases are there, we also call them the Lunar Phases. Four phases are First Quarter, Full Moon, Last Quarter and last but not the least, The New Moon. In addition, 4 intermediate phases make up the combined eight phases that comprise the moon’s phase.
New Moon
A new moon is present only when the moon is not visible. However, this happens because we are looking at that half portion of the moon which is unlit. The start of a new moon phase happens when the moon is directly in the middle of the sun and the Earth. The occurrence of a solar eclipse is only possible at a new moon.
Waxing Crescent Moon
A waxing crescent moon is when the moon is similar to crescent and the crescent increases ‘waxes’ in size from one day to the next day. However, this phase is usually visible only in the west.
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter moon is also known as a half-moon. This phase of the moon is visible when only half of the portion of the moon is visible that is lit. This happens after the occurrence of the waxing crescent phase. It arrives after a week of the new moon.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
A waxing gibbous moon occurs when more than half of the lit area of the moon is visible and the shape also increases. The shape increases in size from one day to the upcoming day. The waxing gibbous phase happens between the first quarter and the full moon phases.
Full Moon
A full moon is when the entire lit area of the moon is visible to us. This phase occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the planet Earth from the sun. Moreover, it is known as opposition.
Waning Gibbous Moon
A waning gibbous moon occurs only when more than half of the lit area of the moon is visible. During this, the shape decreases in the size from one day to the upcoming next day. The waning gibbous phase occurs in the middle of the full moon and the third quarter phases.
Last Quarter Moon
The last quarter moon that we also call as the half-moon is when half of the lit area of the moon is visible after the waning gibbous phase of the moon.
Waning Crescent Moon
A waning crescent moon is when the moon is similar to the crescent. Here, the crescent decreases in the size from one day to the other day coming next.
Answer:
DEFINITION - The phases of the Moon are the different ways the Moon looks from Earth over about a month .
• As the Moon orbits around the Earth, the half of the Moon that faces the Sun will be lit up.
• The different shapes of the lit portion of the Moon that can be seen from Earth are known as phases of the Moon.
• Each phase repeats itself every 29.5 days .
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↝ When the Moon is on one side of the Earth and the Sun is on the other, we see one half of the moon that is bright with sunlight. This moon is called the full moon because we see a full round circle.
↝ When less than half of a Moon is lit by the Sun, it is called the crescent .
↝ When more than half of the Moon is lit by the Sun, it is called a gibbous .
↝ Waxing gibbous indicates the part of the moon that is lit and growing whereas waning gibbous is the part of the Moon that is lit and shrinking .
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There are total eight phases of the Moon. These eight phases are, in order
✔ New Moon
✔ Waxing Crescent
✔ First quarter
✔ Waxing Gibbous
✔ Full Moon
✔ Waning Gibbous
✔ Third Quarter
✔ Waning Crescent
★ Imp. Note - See the diagram of phases of moon for better understanding
