a. Demonstrate the phases of the moon by showing the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun.

    Wax means to get bigger Wane means to get smaller Wax on/wax off (visibility begins from the far right and gradually increases until a full moon is reached. After it is reached, the right side fades away until the next new moon.

Moon phase completion takes 29 days and 12 hours completing a Lunar Calendar.

NEW MOON

   Moon lies between the sun and the Earth Side facing Earth is dark Moon is NOT visible (EXCEPT during a Solar Eclipse)

WAXING CRESCENT

    Less than a quarter of the moon is visible The visible part slowly becomes larger You see the moon from the right side with light Backwards “C”

FIRST QUARTER

    Moon forms a 90˚ angle with the sun and Earth Right half of the moon is visible (light) Left half is dark 2 equal halves

WAXING GIBBOUS

   Close to full moon visibility More than a quarter is visible on Earth Slight darkness on the far left side

FULL MOON

  The moon is aligned with the Sun and Earth (Earth is in the middle) The entire side of the moon facing Earth is bright (visible)

WANING GIBBOUS

   More than a quarter is visible Far right side is dark Visible portion is becoming smaller

LAST QUARTER

   Moon, Sun, and Earth form a 90˚ angle, so the side facing earth is half dark/half bright Visible part will slowly get smaller Visible part is the left side with right side dark

WANING CRESCENT

    Less than a quarter is visible Visible part is getting smaller towards the new moon Only a sliver on the left side is visible, right side is all hidden Looks like the letter “C”