What cause the moons phases?

Answer 1

The phases of the moon are determined by the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun. When the sun is shining on the sun only half of the way it would be either a 1st Quarter Moon or a 3rd Quarter Moon. If the sun is not shining on the moon at all then it would be called a Full Moon.

Answer 2

Moon Phases SimplifiedIt's probably easiest to understand the moon cycle in this order: new moon and full moon, first quarter and third quarter, and the phases in between.

As shown in the above diagram, the new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun. The three objects are in approximate alignment (why "approximate" is explained below). The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see.

At a full moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignment, just as the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, so the entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view.

The first quarter and third quarter moons (both often called a "half moon"), happen when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun. So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow.

Once you understand those four key moon phases, the phases between should be fairly easy to visualize, as the illuminated portion gradually transitions between them.

An easy way to remember and understand those "between" lunar phase names is by breaking out and defining 4 words: crescent, gibbous, waxing, and waning. The word crescent refers to the phases where the moon is less that half illuminated. The word gibbous refers to phases where the moon is morethan half illuminated. Waxing essentially means "growing" or expanding in illumination, and waning means "shrinking" or decreasing in illumination.

Thus you can simply combine the two words to create the phase name, as follows:

After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half, so it is waxing crescent. After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is still increasing, but now it is more than half, so it iswaxing gibbous. After the full moon (maximum illumination), the light continually decreases. So the waning gibbous phase occurs next. Following the third quarter is the waning crescent, which wanes until the light is completely gone -- a new moon.

Answer 3

The phrases of the moon is caused by the angle the sun's rays illuminates the moon. As the Earth orbits the Sun, so the Moon orbits the Earth, which constantly changes the angle of sunlight striking the Moon.

Answer 4

the positions of the moon, earth, and the sun causes the pahses of the moon, eclipses and tides

Answer 5

the light of the sun hitting the moon as it orbits the earth.

from each angle a different phase is visible.