how does the moon change shape?
2006-11-13 16:24:02 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
What you are seeing is the portion of the moon illuminated by the sun that is visible on earth on that particular day. When the moon is full, you are seeing the full view of the side of the moon that is in full sunlight. When it is in half-moon phase, you are seeing half of the side that is lit, and half of the dark side. When it is a new moon, the side facing earth is dark. Try to keep in mind that, even though the same side of the moon is always facing earth, the moon makes an orbit around the earth in about 28 days--AND ONE REVOLUTION ON ITS OWN AXIS--during which it will go through the phases that you observe from earth. I have found that making a model helps to understand this. Use a flashlight for the sun. Then get a globe for the earth, and a styrofoam ball or a tennis ball for the moon. You can lay the flashlight on a table or chair, or get someone to hold it for you. Now focus on the moon making its revolution around the earth, while always facing the earth the same way. You will see that as the moon circles the earth, the part that is illuminated by the sun changes, resulting in the phases that you see.
2006-11-13 16:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by Steve-o-58 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lunar phase is any of the aspects or appearances presented by the Moon as seen from Earth, determined by the portion of the Moon that is visibly illuminated by the Sun. The lunar phases vary cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the relative positions of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. Since the Moon appears bright only due to the Sun's reflected light, only the half of the Moon facing the Sun is illuminated.
2006-11-13 16:34:56 · answer #2 · answered by -a- 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon does not change shape, what you are observing is a change in the Earth's and moon's positioning, as the moon orbits the earth, you can see the back side of the moon when we are side to side and the sun is on the opposite side of the earth, we can see the side of the moon that is dark or not receiving sunlight- or the night side of the moon- ? which makes the moon appear as a sickle shape due to the curvature of the sphere.
2006-11-13 18:33:29 · answer #3 · answered by Coke&TVdinner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO NO NO, do no longer hear to those people who say the earth's shadow reason the stages of the moon. this is barely contained on the topic of a lunar eclipse (that can purely ensue on the nighttime of an entire moon while the solar, earth, and moon are completely lined up). in case you spot the fabulous 0.5 moon illuminated, this is by technique of the fact the solar is shining from the fabulous factor. Stand in a gloomy room and shine a flashlight at a baseball from the factor and you will see. damn, do no longer you human beings be conscious of something approximately astronomy?? there is such incredibly some incorrect solutions for this question!
2016-12-17 09:40:06 · answer #4 · answered by mcgeehee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's spherical, and it gets illuminated from different angles by the Sun as it orbits the Earth. The same phases are visible with Mercury and Venus, when they're seen in a telescope.
Incidentally, the Moon *does* turn; it turns at the same rate as its orbital period. That is called a tidally locked orbit.
2006-11-13 16:34:22 · answer #5 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋