The Moon. Man in the Moon –Imaginary image seen on the surface of the moon. –Drawn in the dark...

The Moon

The Moon• Man in the Moon

– Imaginary image seen on the surface of the moon.

– Drawn in the dark maria (sea) and lighter highlands of the moon.

– Myths about image are found in many cultures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_in_the_moon

Rotation and Revolution

• Why do we always see the same side of the moon?

• Moon’s rotation on its axis: 27.3 days

• Moon’s revolution around Earth: 27.3 days

• Revolution takes the same amount of time as rotation, so we always see the same side of the moon facing Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZIB_leg75Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exIpL0Uhr_k

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Moon Phases

• Moon Phases -the different forms the moon takes on when viewed from Earth.

• Phases depend on the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf

We only can see the “day” side of the moon when it reflects the sunlight.

New Moon• Occurs when the

moon is between the Earth and Sun.

• The lighted half of the moon is facing the Sun, the dark half is facing Earth.

New Moon Position

Waxing• More of the illuminated half of the Moon can be seen

each night. (Its getting bigger)

Waxing First Waxing

Crescent Quarter Gibbous

1st Quarter Position

Full Moon• Occurs when the

moon is opposite the sun, with the Earth in between.

• All of the Moon’s lighted half is facing the Earth.

Full Moon Position

Waning• Less of the illuminated half is seen each night. (Its getting smaller)

Waning Third Waning Gibbous Quarter Crescent

3rd Quarter Position

Shadow• The Moon’s shadow appears to move from

the right to the left.

Left Right

Complete Moon Phase Cycle

NEW I------------ WAXING ---------I FULL I------------WANING----------I NEW

Crescent 1st qtr Gibbous Gibbous 3rd Qtr Crescent

Name the Phase Quiz

Full Moon

1st Quarter

New Moon

3rd Quarter

Waning Gibbous

Waning Crescent

Waxing Gibbous

Waxing Crescent

Eclipses

Eclipses

• Caused by the revolution of the moon.

• Occurs when the moon blocks the sunlight from reaching the Earth or vice-versa.

Solar Eclipse• Occurs when the moon moves directly in

between the Earth and Sun and casts its shadow on the Earth.

• What phase is the moon?– New Moon

Shadow of an eclipse

• Umbra-Darkest part of the shadow (total eclipse)

• Penumbra- Lighter, surrounding part of shadow (partial eclipse)

Solar eclipse-

notice the CME’S

around the sun.

Satellite photo of

solar eclipse shadow on

Earth, notice the umbra

and penumbra

areas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMyqPxFh5Zw

Lunar Eclipse• Occurs when the Earth moves directly

between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.

• What phase is the moon?– Full Moon

• Sometimes, when the moon is in the umbra, sunlight is bent through Earth’s atmosphere causing a red color on the moon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/612949.stm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMw7yamP4Rw&feature=related

Lunar Eclipse from the Moon

Will I see an eclipse?

• http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

The moon’s orbit is tilted so eclipses are rare events.

Moon Phases in the Southern Hemisphere

• http://www.tki.org.nz/r/science/day_night/index_e.php