The phases of the moon refer to the different shapes or appearances that the moon takes on as it orbits around the Earth. These phases result from the changing positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun relative to each other.
There are eight primary phases of the moon, each with its distinct appearance:
New Moon: The new moon phase occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun. From Earth, the side of the moon facing us is in shadow, and the moon appears completely dark or invisible.
Waxing Crescent: After the new moon, a small crescent of the moon becomes visible. This phase marks the beginning of the moon's waxing (growing) phase. The illuminated portion of the moon slowly increases during this phase.
First Quarter: As the moon continues to orbit, it reaches the first quarter phase. Half of the moon appears illuminated, resembling a half-circle in the sky. This phase is often referred to as a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous: Following the first quarter, more than half of the moon becomes illuminated. The waxing gibbous phase shows a large, almost fully illuminated moon, with only a small portion remaining in shadow.
Full Moon: The full moon occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun, with the Earth positioned in between. The entire side of the moon facing Earth is fully illuminated, resulting in a complete circle of light.
Waning Gibbous: After the full moon, the moon starts to wane (decrease) in illumination. The waning gibbous phase features a large, mostly illuminated moon, with a decreasing portion of it transitioning into shadow.
Third Quarter: The moon reaches its third quarter phase when it appears as a half-moon once again, but on the opposite side compared to the first quarter. This phase signifies the final half of the moon's waning phase.
Waning Crescent: In the waning crescent phase, only a small crescent of the moon is visible before it transitions back into the new moon phase. The illuminated portion continues to decrease until the moon appears as a thin crescent in the sky.
The complete cycle of moon phases, from new moon to new moon, takes approximately 29.5 days to complete, known as a lunar month.
These phases occur due to the changing positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun, which create varying amounts of sunlight falling on the moon's surface as seen from our perspective on Earth.
The phases of the moon have cultural, historical, and scientific significance, influencing activities such as lunar calendars, religious observances, and even wildlife behavior. Understanding the phases of the moon can enhance our appreciation of the natural world and the wonders of our celestial companion.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:22 New Moon
00:39 Waxing Crescent
00:55 First Quarter
01:12 Waxing Gibbous
01:29 Full Moon
01:45 Vaning Gibbous
02:02 Last Quarter
02:19 Waning Crescent
02:36 Ending
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Source:
science.howstuffworks.com/pha...
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Music:
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Music by @AudioSpaceOfficial
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