-- At any time, 50% of the moon is illuminated by the sun.
-- As seen from Earth, the moon moves in a path around us.
-- The position of the moon on its path around us determines
how much of its lighted half we can see from where we are.
. . . If the moon is behind us, directly opposite the sun,
then we can see its complete lit-up half.
. . . If the moon is off to our side, then we can only see
about half of its lit-up half.
. . . If the moon is in front of us, in the same direction as
the sun, then all we can see is its dark back-side.
The NASA web site has a table of phases of the Moon at http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/phases-moon It doesn't matter where YOU are for the phases of the Moon; this table is the same for everyone.
The Moon's phases.
moon phases
The simplest way to put it: Moon phases are simply the passing of the lunar daytime and night across the moon's surface over the course of one month. One entire lunar day is equal to one full set of phases. [Note: the earth's shadow has absolutely nothing to do with the moon's phases.]
An entire cycle is about 29 1/2 days, on average. The "phases" are more like points in time, when the Moon shows a certain shape.
The stages of the Moon, are referred to as the 'Phases of the Moon'.
The moon has 8 phases
There are only 8 phases of the moon.
You get the phases of the moon from the Sun reflecting off the moon at different angles.
The cause of the phases of the Moon is closely related to our calendar month. (moon-th). The phases of the Moon are related to the Moon's orbit of Earth.
The cause of the phases of the Moon is closely related to our calendar month. (moon-th). The phases of the Moon are related to the Moon's orbit of Earth.
The phases of the moon have no effect on your health.
As with any month there are all the phases of the moon.
The different shapes of the moon seen from Earth are called lunar phases. These phases include new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, which result from the changing positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun.
"Phases" of the Moon.
The phases of the moon are created by the relative position of the moon, to the earth, to the sun.
The phases of the moon are created by the relative position of the moon, to the earth, to the sun.