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moon phase
Definition
The moon phase is the shape of the moon as it appears from Earth. The moon phase changes because the moon rotates around Earth and the sun shines on different parts of the moon.
There are eight main moon phases:
- New moon: The moon is completely dark in the sky.
- Waxing crescent: The moon is a thin crescent in the sky.
- First quarter: The moon is half full in the sky.
- Waxing gibbous: The moon is more than half full in the sky.
- Full moon: The moon is completely round in the sky.
- Waning gibbous: The moon is more than half full, but not quite as full as it was at the full moon.
- Third quarter: The moon is half full in the sky, but not quite as full as it was in the first quarter.
- Waning crescent: The moon is a thin crescent in the sky, but not as thin as it was at the waxing crescent.
The moon phase changes every 29.5 days. The moon goes through all eight phases in one cycle.
How can the word be used?
The moon phase affects the tides.
Different forms of the word
Noun: One of the eight stages that the Moon goes through as it orbits the Earth.
Adjective: Relating to or occurring during a particular moon phase.
Verb: To pass through a particular moon phase.
Etymology
The word "moon phase" is a compound word that is made up of the words "moon" and "phase." The word "moon" comes from the Old English word "mōn," which means "the natural satellite of Earth." The word "phase" comes from the Greek word "phásē," which means "appearance.".
The word "moon phase" was first used in English in the 14th century to describe the different stages that the Moon goes through as it orbits the Earth. The word was originally used to describe the four main moon phases: new moon, full moon, first quarter, and last quarter.
Question
Draw what a moon phase looks like.