The Moon
Science: KS3, topic 3.6.8
The Moon
The Earth’s moon orbits the Earth. Planets can have no moons or many moons. A moon is a natural satellite.
The Moon
- From Earth, we always see the same side of the Moon.
- The side we do not see is known as the ‘dark side of the Moon’.
- The Moon will appear upside down if you look at it from a different hemisphere.
- The Moon moves further away from the Earth every year.
- We see the moon in the night sky as it reflects the Sun’s light to us.
Lunar eclipses
- A lunar or Moon eclipse happens when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon.
- Lunar eclipses happen when the Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon.
- This eclipse will happen when there is a full moon.
The lunar cycle
- It takes 28 days for the Moon to make one complete orbit of the Earth.
- As the Moon moves around the Earth, we see it from different positions. This makes the moon appear to be different shapes.
Phases of the moon
- Full moon - a bright full circle. The Moon is at the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun.
- Waning gibbous - most of the left side of the Moon is lit up.
- Third quarter - 50% of the left side is lit up.
- Waning crescent - less than 50% of the left side is lit up.
- New moon - not visible at all because it is in between the Sun and the Earth.
- Waxing crescent - less than 50% of the right side is lit up.
- First quarter - 50% of the right side is lit up.
- Waxing gibbous - most of the right side is lit up.
Test yourself on The Moon
Which of these is not a phase of the moon?
How many days does it take the Moon to orbit the Earth?
The Moon is only visible because it reflects light from the Sun. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. What does this suggest happens to the Moon during a lunar eclipse?
Select the correct statement in each pair