Unit 3: Phases of the Moon

What is the relationship between the phase of the Moon and the time of day? For example, I could ask what phase of the Moon rises at noon?

A new moon rises at 6AM. For each phase after that, add 3 hours. First Quarter rises at noon

What are the various phases of the Moon?

New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

Why does the Moon have phases?

The Moon moves relative to the Sun and the Earth.

How do you determine the phase of the Earth as seen from the moon?

The phase of the Earth is always opposite (4 phases ahead) of the phase of the Moon.

What is the time period from one full moon to the next full moon? Why is this different from the time the moon takes to make one revolution?

There are 29.5306 days between one full moon and the next full moon. This is different from one revolution because the Earth makes part of a revolution in 27.32 days, and the Moon needs to orbit for another 2.2 days to catch up.

How do you calculate the phase of the moon at any point in the past or future?

You can calculate the phase of the moon by first calculating the number of days between a date in time and November 25 2015. Once you find the number of days between, you divide by 29.5306 to get the number of lunations. Subtract any whole number from this answer and multiply by 8 to get how many phases away it is. If the date in time is before November 25, 2015, the phase of the moon is that many phases before a full moon. If the date in time is after November 25, 2015, the phase of the moon is that many phases after a full moon.