2.)Approximately What Time Does the Observer Pass from Day Into Night?

Lunar Phases Interactive

Instructions:

Google “Lunar Phases Interactive” and click on the first site that shows up, which should start with “highered.mheducation.com”. Once the website loads, click on the Introduction and How To tabs to learn more about this interactive. Please be sure to READ this info! When you are ready, click on the Interactive tab and use what you learn to answer the questions below.

Hints: Use the “Pause Time” checkbox to freeze/unfreeze the animation. You can also drag the hand on the clock to a specific time, drag the moon to a specific point in its orbit, or click on a specific day of the lunar cycle.

1.)Look at the observer and moon in the “view from above” onthe left side of your screen. The yellow arrows indicate the sun’s rays. What time is it when the observer on earth has the sun nearest his zenith (overhead)?

2.)Approximately what time does the observer pass from day into night?

3.)What time is it when the sun is at the observer’s nadir (under his feet)?

Waxing Crescent

4.)On day 4, the waxing crescent moon visiblefrom ______pm to ______pm

First Quarter

5.)What time is the first quarter moon at the highest point in the observer’s sky on nights 7-8?

Waxing Gibbous

6.)Pause time and click on day 9 on the calendar. What time does the moon cross your meridian (due south)? ______What time does the moon cross your meridian on day 10? ______Day 12? ______

This change happens because the moon is rising later and later each night. Explain WHY the moon is rising later:

Full Moon

7.)Describe or draw the locations of the Earth, Moon, and Sun in relation to each other on day 14 when the moon is full:

Waning Gibbous

8.)What time does the waning gibbous moon reach the observer’s zenith on day 18?

Third Quarter (also called Last Quarter)

9.)What time does the third quarter moon reach the observer’s zenith on day 22?

Waning Crescent

10.)Why are the moon and sun BOTH visible in the sky at 10:00 am on day 26?

Analysis:

11.)Which phase of the moon is visible in the night sky for the most hours?

12.)During what time range is the new moon above the horizon of an observer on the

Earth?

13.) Why can you see both the sun and the moon in the sky at the same time on day 25

butnot on day 14?

14.)Why is the moon visible at different times of day/night during different phases?