Lunar Phase Simulator, Schemes and Mind Maps of Astrophysics

Name: ________________________________________ Date:___________ Pd:_________

Lunar Phase Simulator

Directions: Use the Lunar Phase Simulator to answer the questions that follow. The URL for the

simulator is below.

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/lps/animations/lps.swf

1. The following sketches of the moon’s appearance were made over about four weeks. Identify the

phases and put them in the correct numerical order. One is labeled for you. Not all the phases of

the moon are shown.

2. From the perspective of an observer, the moon moves clockwise / counter-clockwise (circle one)

in its orbit around the Earth. The diagram below shows the sun's light coming in from the left.

The moon's location is marked at several points in its orbit. These are the points the moon was at

when the sketches above were drawn. Identify each position with the letter of the corresponding

sketch. Use the letters from the diagram in question number 1 above.