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The Moon Cycle The moon is a “natural satellite” which means it naturally orbits the Earth. It reflects the light of the sun, it does not make its own light. Some planets have multiple moons, we have only one. The moon orbits and rotates at the same speed, so we always see the same side. The moon orbits 9 degrees around the Earth every day It takes 29.5 days for a full moon cycle to happen, from full moon to full moon. Remember this because it is roughly a “moonth”! The moon rotates counterclockwise. Name Picture Description New Moon Once each month, the moon comes all the way around in its orbit so that it is more or less between us and the sun. If the moon always passed directly between the sun and Earth at new moon, a solar eclipse would take place every month. Waxing Crescent At this moon phase, the Earth, moon and sun are located nearly on a line in space. First Quarter although the moon appears half-lit to us, it’s good to recall that the illuminated portion of a first quarter moon truly is just a quarter. On the night of first quarter moon, we see half the moon’s day side, or a true quarter of the moon. Another lighted quarter of the moon shines just as brightly in the direction opposite Earth! Waxing Gibbous Moon continues on its orbit around the Earth, away from the sun. Slightly more is visible than in the first quarter Full Moon At full moon, the moon and sun are on a line, with Earth in between Waning Gibbous Moon is getting smaller Last Quarter At the last quarter phase, the moon in its orbit around Earth is at right angles to a line between the Earth and sun. The moon is now threequarters of the way around in its orbit of Earth, as measured from one new moon to the next. Waning crescent Because the moon is nearly on a line with the Earth and sun again, the day hemisphere of the moon is facing mostly away from us once more. We see only a slender fraction of the moon’s day side: a crescent moon.