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Activity 3:
Observing the Moon
Print Name: Signature:
1.) KEY.
Activity:
Since the dawn of time, our closest neighbor the moon has fascinated humans. In this activity we will explore the phases of the moon. As we have discussed in class, the phases of the Moon are caused by the angle between the Sun, Moon and Earth. By understanding this relationship, one can determine a model for the phases of the Moon. By the end of the activity, you should be able to do the following by simply observing the moon: name the phase, determine if it is waxing or waning, predict what the moon will look like at a later time and date, determine the time of observation, as well as determine the geometry of the Earth, Sun and Moon necessary to produce the phase.
Part 1: Observing the Moon from Earth:
Throughout the month, the Moon appears to change its appearance. Ancient civilizations used the Moon’s cycle as the basis for their calendars. If you were to observe the moon, through out its cycle you would observe the following phases. a. b. c. d.
e. f. g. h.
Of course these are not arranged in the correct order. Complete Part 1 without consulting your textbook. The purpose of this portion is to get you thinking about the phases of the moon, not simply looking up the answers. If you get caught using your textbook, one point will be deducted from your grade on this activity.
- What do you think? What is the correct order of these Phases? Any Answer Acceptable
2) What do you think? Why did you order the phases in the way that you did? Any Answer Acceptable
3) What do you think? After you have observed the phases, attempt to label the different phases. Astronomers use the following terms to describe the shape of the moon. New – Completely Dark Crescent – Small amount present Gibbous – Large amount Present Full – Completely Full Quarter – Half of the Moon Lit In addition, Astronomers use the following terms to describe if the Moon is getting larger or smaller. Waxing – Getting Larger Waning – Getting Smaller
Moon Phase Label Moon Phase Label A. Any Answer Acceptable E. Any Answer Acceptable B. Any Answer Acceptable F. Any Answer Acceptable C. Any Answer Acceptable G. Any Answer Acceptable D. Any Answer Acceptable H. Any Answer Acceptable
4) Your instructor will now give you a Moon Phase Poster to determine what the correct order of phases. How do your predictions (From Questions 1 and 3) compare to the actual results?
An easy way to remember if a moon is waxing or waning, is to look at its shape. If the Moon appears to form a “D” it is waxing, while if it appears to form a “C” it is waning.
5) What do you think? What do you believe causes the Moon to change its shape?
Any Answer Acceptable
6) What do you think? The moon orbits around the Earth, what direction does the Moon orbit the Earth?
Any Answer Acceptable
7) What do you think? How long does it take the Moon to orbit the Earth?
Any Answer Acceptable
10) What do you think? Why did you place the phases where you did on the above chart? Discuss your reasoning.
Any Answer Acceptable
In this section, you will convert Geocentric observations of different phases of the Moon to a Solar System view. You will do this by calculating the angle between the Moon, the Earth and the Sun.
11) For each of the different geocentric views of the Moon in Figure 3, measure the angle between the Moon, Earth and the Sun. Figure 3 is located at the back of this handout. To do this draw straight lines from each the Sun and the Moon to the Southern horizon. Use your protractor to measure this angle. Record your measured angles below.
Day Phase Angle 1 New 0 ° 3 Waxing Crescent ~45° 7 1 st^ Quarter (^90) ° 10 Waxing Gibbous ~ 135° 14 Full 180 ° 17 Waning Gibbous (^) ~225° 21 3 rd^ Quarter 270 ° 28 Waning Crescent ~315°
12) Using your measurement of the Moon in question 13, determine
which position of the Moon in the diagram below corresponds to each phase. To do this convert your Geocentric observations to a Solar System view, remembering how the angles relate between Geocentric and Solar System views correspond. Label each lunar phase in the diagram below.
New
Waxing Crescent
1 st^ Quarter
Full
Waning Crescent
Waxing Gibbous
Waning Gibbous 3rd Quarter
13) Where are the following moons located? How does this compare to your answers to question 9? Discuss possible reasons for differences. a. b. c. d
14) What direction does the Moon orbit the Earth? How do you know?
The moon orbits the Earth in a Counter-Clockwise direction. You know that the cycle of phases follows a certain order. By studying the positions of these different shaped moons, the moon must orbit in a counter clockwise direction.
- How long does it take the Moon to orbit the Earth? How do you know?
Over the course of one revolution around the Earth the Moon goes through a complete cycle of phases. Therefore, the time to complete the phases is equal to the orbital period of the Moon, or 28 days.
Part 3: Determining the Time of Moonrise and Moonset
One of the goals of understanding the phases of the moon is to be able to tell the time of observation from the observed phase of the Moon and the location of the Moon in the Sky. You should already have some understanding of telling time observation from you work with the Sun and converting between Geocentric and Solar System views in Activity 1.
- For the following Solar System view of the Earth, Moon and sun, calculate the time that the Moon will rise, cross the meridian and set. You might find it helpful to draw an imaginary figure on your Earth.
Rise: NOON Cross Meridian: 6 PM Set: Midnight
..
Earth
Moon
Figure 3a: Day 1 – New Moon
Figure 3b: Day 3 – Waxing Crescent
N E S (^) W N
N E S (^) W N
Figure 3c: Day 7 – 1st^ Quarter
Figure 3d: Day 10 – Waxing Gibbous
N E S (^) W N
N E S (^) W N
Figure 3g: Day 21 – 3rd^ Quarter
Figure 3h: Day 24 – Waning Crescent
Day 28 – New Moon
N E S (^) W N
N E S (^) W N
Moon Phase Poster
- New Moon Day 0 and Day
- Waxing Crescent Days 1-
- First Quarter Day
- Waxing Gibbous Days 8-
- Full Moon Day
- Waning Gibbous Days 15-
- Third Quarter Day
- Waning Crescent Days 22-
