The Phases of the Moon
[ 31 minutes: low-resolution 3.7 MB, high resolution 14.7 MB ]

Time Stamp   HTML Slide
[00:00]   The Phases of the Moon   
[01:51]A Lunar Clock   
[02:12]How Do We Learn New Things?   
[03:04]The Scientific Method   
[04:06]Studying the Phases of the Moon   
[04:25]Understanding the Phases of the Moon   
[04:32]The Lunar Phases   
[06:05]Finding the Moon in the Sky. I    
[06:58]Finding the Moon in the Sky. II    
[07:32]Finding the Moon in the Sky. III   
[07:39]Finding the Moon in the Sky. IV    
[07:51]Finding the Moon in the Sky. V    
[08:48]Solar Illumination. I    
[11:13]Solar Illumination. II   
[11:44]What Fraction of the Illuminated Side of the Moon Can We See? I    
[12:39]What Fraction of the Illuminated Side of the Moon Can We See? II   
[14:15]A 24 Hour Solar Clock   
[27:58]Visualizing the Phases of the Moon   

Learning Objectives

  1. Understand how the phase of the Moon is controlled by the relative positions of the Sun and Moon in the sky.

  2. Comprehend that the Sun always illuminates a full half of the Moon, but that we can see a fraction (something between all and none) of the illuminated portion from Earth at any given time.

  3. Realize that at any time the Moon can be seen from only half of the Earth's surface.

  4. Diagram how the Moon's monthly cycle of movement around the Earth causes it to pass through its eight apparent phases from Earth.

  5. Visualize the phase of the Moon for each position around the Earth, relative to the Sun.

  6. Predict when the Moon will rise, lie almost overhead, and set, during each lunar phase.

  7. Visualize the east-west positions around the Earth as forming a 24 hour solar clock.


Copyright © 2006–2013 Nicole P. Vogt. All rights reserved.