Phases of the Moon

 

This view is from above the North Pole of the earth. Note that from this position, the moon always appears to be the same shape. It is only from our perspective on earth that the lit part of the moon changes shape over the course of the its 29 day cycle.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on each moon to see what it would look like from earth.
 

Also: check out the US Naval Obesrvatory Moon and Sun Data.  This site has images of the moon, moon positions for various times and dates, times for moonrise and moon set, times for sunrise and sunset, etc.

 


©Dr. Leslie Bradbury and Mr. Jeff Goodman
Appalachian State University
Science Education On-line