Moon PhaserPhun

AstronomyName:Date:Pd:

USING THE MOON PHASER

Like the Sun (which is a star), the Moon appears to rise in the east, move across the southern sky, and set in the west (daily motion caused by the Earth's rotation). Facing south, hold the Moon Phaser so that theMOON DIALis at the top and the"Time Window"is at the bottom.

Determining Current Moon Phase & Approximate Position in the Sky

  1. Use thenew moon calendar (which appears on the back of the Moon Phaser) and aregular calendar to count the number of days since thelastNew Moon.
  2. Find that number (from Step 1 above) on theMOON DIAL--the current Moon phase appears below this number.
  3. Decide what time of day or night you will observe the Moon. Then rotate theMOON DIALso that the time of your observation appears in the"Time Window."If the Moon is visible (i.e., above the horizon) at the time you have chosen to observe, then the current Moon phase is shown in the correct direction (E, S, or W) and position in the sky.

Determining Approximate Time of Moonrise & Moonset

  1. For a given Moon phase, rotate theMOON DIALso that the Moon appears just above the eastern horizon. Note the time which appears in the"Time Window"--this is the time of moonrise. For example, the New Moon (No. 30) rises at approximately 6 a.m.
  2. Rotate theMOON DIALso that the same Moon phase just touches (or is just below) the western horizon. Note the time which appears in the"Time Window"--this is the time of moonset. For example, the New Moon (No. 30) sets at approximately 6 p.m. Note that every Moon phase is visible for approximately a 12-hour period.

ACTIVITY QUESTIONS

  1. Thehorizonis the imaginary line where the sky appears to meet the land. On the Moon Phaser, label the horizon.
  2. Thezenithis the imaginary point in the sky directly overhead an observer. On the Moon Phaser, label the zenith.
  3. On December 9, 2017, which Moon phase would be visible in the sky and at what time will it be at the Western horizon?

Complete the followingtable:

Moon Phase versus Moon Phaser Position Number
Moon Phase / Moon Phaser Position Number
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent
  1. Using the Moon Phaser, identify the Moon phase which would appear in the sky for the dates listed in the following table. Record your answers in the table. Then determine if the Moon would be above or below the horizon for the times listed in the table. Answer the question by writing either"above"for phases above the horizon or"below"for phases below the horizon.

Date & Time / Moon Phase / Above or Below Horizon
February 10, 2017 at 10:00 pm
March 4, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Third Quarter / Above
New Moon / Below
Your Next Birthday at 6:00 pm
  1. Explain why every Moon phase is visible for approximately a 12-hour period.