The Moon

The sun and moon serve essential roles in regulating life on Earth. The sun provides light and warmth, driving photosynthesis in plants, which is fundamental for the food chain and climate regulation. The moon influences ocean tides and has been crucial for navigation and cultural practices throughout history. These celestial bodies are often referenced in literature and philosophy, symbolizing concepts like time, change, and duality.

The moon and stars appear to wander against the backdrop of fixed stars due to their differing orbits and positions in our solar system. The moon orbits Earth, completing a cycle approximately every 29.5 days, which causes it to change its position relative to stars each night. Similarly, planets, which are also considered "wandering stars," move along their own orbits around the sun, resulting in their apparent motion against the more distant, fixed stars. This relative motion is a combination of the orbital mechanics of celestial bodies and the Earth's rotation.

The answer to the riddle is "shadow." A shadow can be seen in the dark when illuminated by a light source, and it is a part of you as it is created by your presence blocking light. However, when the sun is up and shining brightly, shadows can become less defined or disappear altogether.

Early astronomers believed the dark spots on the moon, known as maria, were vast oceans or seas. This interpretation stemmed from the Latin word "maria," which means "seas." They thought these areas were filled with water, reflecting a common misconception influenced by the moon's appearance. It wasn't until later observations revealed their true nature as basaltic plains that this idea was corrected.

Heavenly bodies revolve around the Sun, by obeying the Laws of Newtonian Mechanics(Gravity).

All bodies would remain stationary or in unioform(straight line/speed) motion, unless acted upon by a force.

That force is the mass of of the body and the acceleration dies to gravity.

As the Earth has gravity , so does the Sun. The Sun being a more massive object has greater acceleration (gravity). So as the Earth moves in a straight line, the Sun's gravity pulls is in to the Sun. However, these forces are all Balanced . so our forward speed is balanced by the Sun;s gravity, so we don't 'fall into the Sun' , but just go round/orbit the Sun.

The planets all revolve/orbit the Sun in an approximate plane . Think of it in 2 -dimension

Out of this plane are comets, such as Halley's Comet. This object revolves about the Sun in a 3-dimension. as do meteors.

The Moon does NOT have any Natural Satellites.

The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth.

Some astronomers consider the Earth and the Moon to be a Binary System. This is because The Earth's Moon is so large, compared to the Moon's of other planets, that it has an effect on the Earth's orbital movement about the Sun.

The two inner planets , Mercury and Venus, do NOT have any Moons. However, Mars, and the other outer planets do have moons. but compared to the planets size, their respective Moons are tiny.

First of all , to correct your English spelling. It is 'phases' , NOT 'fases'.

There are four phases. They are ;-

New Moon

(Waxing Crescent)

First Quarter

(Waxing Gibbous)

Full Moon

(Waning Gibbous)

Last ( or third ) Quarter.

(Waning Crescent)

Next New Moon

The bracketed terms are the visible shape of the Moon between each phase.

When you see only half the Moon's disc in the EVENING sky.

The names of the phases of the Moon are ; -

New Moon

Waxing Crescent

First Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Full Moon

Waning Gibbous

Last Quarter

Waning Crescent

Next New Moon.

The whole takes about 28 or 29 days to complete.

From Last Quarter , through NEW Moon, to First Quarter is approximately 14 or 15 days.

about 3 or 4 days

From NEW Moon to FIRST QUARTER is approximately 7 days.

However, it is only visible as a crescent for about 3 to 4 days, when closer to the First Quarter.

As of October 2023, there are four astronauts who walked on the Moon still alive: Buzz Aldrin, David Scott, Charles Duke, and Harrison Schmitt. They participated in the Apollo missions that landed on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Their contributions to space exploration remain significant as they are part of a very select group of individuals who have experienced walking on another celestial body.

In 14 days, you will most likely see a full moon. The lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, so two weeks after a new moon, the moon will be nearly full, reaching its full phase around that time. If you're observing the moon during that period, expect it to appear bright and fully illuminated.

The only celestial body in the universe besides the sun and the moon that is bright enough to cast shadows on Earth is Venus. Often referred to as the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star," Venus can reflect enough sunlight to create shadows under specific conditions, particularly when it is at its brightest during its proximity to Earth.

At sunrise, the moon is typically in its waning phase, specifically the waning gibbous or third quarter phase, and is visible in the southern sky. During these phases, the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, allowing it to be observed in the southern part of the sky as the sun rises. The exact phase can vary depending on the specific date and time, but these phases generally align with the moon's position at sunrise.

The moon can be seen from Earth because it reflects sunlight. As it orbits our planet, different portions of its illuminated side become visible, creating the various phases of the moon. Its proximity to Earth allows us to observe its surface details, while the lack of its own light means we only see it when sunlight shines on it.

The Moon lacks weather because it has a very thin atmosphere, called an exosphere, which is insufficient to support weather phenomena like wind, rain, or clouds. Unlike Earth, which has a dense atmosphere that can trap heat and facilitate weather systems, the Moon's exosphere cannot retain heat or moisture. As a result, temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, but there are no significant weather patterns.

The term for a moon that is shrinking can be described as "waning." This term is commonly used in the context of the lunar phases, specifically referring to the period after a full moon when the visible portion of the moon decreases. Additionally, in a broader astronomical context, a moon may be said to be "degrading" or "eroding" if it is physically losing mass over time.

The Moon is the principal force on the Earth's tides.

The Sun also has a force on the Earth's tides, but it is a much lesser force.

When the Moon and Sun pull together, or in opposition, you have Spring Tides.

When the Moon an the Sun pull at 'right-angles;' ( Lunar phase is first or last quartet), then you have Neap tides.

Spring High/Low tides are very high/low tides.

Neap High/Low rides are not as high or low as Spring Tides.

Spring Tides /Highest tides occur at Full Moon and New Moon.

At Full Moon the Moon and the Sun are pulling the tides in direct opposition.

At New Moon the Moon and the Sun are pulling the tides in the same direction.

Like a wheel balancing effect high tides are on opposite sides of the Earth.

The gravitational force between Earth and the Moon primarily governs the phenomenon of tides in Earth's oceans. This gravitational pull causes the water to bulge out on the side of Earth facing the Moon, creating a high tide, while a corresponding high tide occurs on the opposite side due to the centrifugal force of the Earth-Moon system. Additionally, the gravitational interaction also influences the Moon's orbit around Earth, contributing to its phases and the stability of its trajectory.

The Moon does not rotate around the Sun independently; rather, it orbits the Earth, and together they both orbit the Sun. The Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one orbit around the Earth, and during this time, both the Earth and the Moon are moving in their respective orbit around the Sun. Thus, the Moon indirectly participates in the Earth's annual orbit around the Sun, which takes about 365.25 days.

When the side of the Moon facing Earth is completely lit, it is in the full moon phase. During this phase, the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, allowing sunlight to illuminate the entire visible surface of the Moon. This results in a bright, round appearance in the night sky.

During a full moon, you see 100% of the moon's illuminated side that is facing Earth. This means that the fraction of the entire moon visible to an observer on Earth during a full moon is 1 or 1/1. However, the entire moon itself is not fully illuminated by the Sun; only the side facing Earth is visible.