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The angle between the observer (Earth) the Moon and the Sun.

Experiment:
  • On an occasion when both the Sun and the Moon are visible:
  1. Stand in the sunlight,
  2. hold a ball up so that i covers the Moon.
  3. Notice that the ball is illuminated exactly like the Moon!
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12y ago
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5mo ago

The different phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and sun. As the moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight reflected by the moon changes, giving the appearance of different phases from Earth. The phases cycle through new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.

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13y ago

It depends on what part of the sun is shining on the moon!

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Q: What causes different phases of the moon?
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The phases of the Moon are dependent upon the relative position of the?

Earth, Moon, and Sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, different fractions of its illuminated surface are visible to us on Earth, creating the different phases. The interaction of the sunlight with the Moon's position relative to the Earth causes the varying phases we observe.


What is the effect of the sun's light shining on the moon?

The sun's light shining on the moon causes the moon to reflect sunlight towards Earth, making it visible in the night sky. This reflection creates different phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth.


Why do we have different phases of the moon?

The different phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and moon. As the moon orbits Earth, different portions of its illuminated half are visible from our perspective. This causes the moon to appear to change shape from a new moon (when it is not visible) to a full moon (when it appears fully illuminated).


What causes the phase of the moon to change?

The changing phases of the moon are caused by its position relative to the Earth and the Sun. As the moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight it reflects changes, creating the different phases we see from Earth.


The different phases of the moon are caused by?

Actually it is not the rotation of the earth but the orbit of the moon around the earth that causes the phases of the moon. The moon's relationship in it's orbit with regard to the sun is what causes the phases to change. When the moon is between the earth and the sun, it is in a "new moon" phase because the only side of the moon that is lit with sunshine is the far side or the unseen side of the moon. When the earth is between the sun and the moon, the moon is at "full moon" phase. In between these two extremes gives us the 1st quarter and the 3rd quarter phases.

Related questions

Do phases of the moon have anything to do with Earth's shadow falling on the moon?

No, the phases of the moon are caused by the sun's light hitting the moon at different angles when viewed from Earth. The Earth's shadow is what causes a lunar eclipse.


What is the greatest number of full moon phases visible on Earth that are possible in the span of one year?

the process that causes the moon to appear at these different phases of earthlings


The phases of the Moon are dependent upon the relative position of the?

Earth, Moon, and Sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, different fractions of its illuminated surface are visible to us on Earth, creating the different phases. The interaction of the sunlight with the Moon's position relative to the Earth causes the varying phases we observe.


What causes the changes of the moon phases?

The moon spins


Why do moon phases occur?

The moon reflects the light of the sun.As the moon revolves around the earth its relative position between the earth and the sun changes, so light is reflected from different portions of the moon. This is what causes the phases.


What is the effect of the sun's light shining on the moon?

The sun's light shining on the moon causes the moon to reflect sunlight towards Earth, making it visible in the night sky. This reflection creates different phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth.


What real motion of the moon causes the pattern of moon phases?

the rotation of the moon causes the pattern of the moon phase.


How do you get the phases from the moon?

You get the phases of the moon from the Sun reflecting off the moon at different angles.


Why do we have different phases of the moon?

The different phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and moon. As the moon orbits Earth, different portions of its illuminated half are visible from our perspective. This causes the moon to appear to change shape from a new moon (when it is not visible) to a full moon (when it appears fully illuminated).


What causes the phase of the moon to change?

The changing phases of the moon are caused by its position relative to the Earth and the Sun. As the moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight it reflects changes, creating the different phases we see from Earth.


The different phases of the moon are caused by?

Actually it is not the rotation of the earth but the orbit of the moon around the earth that causes the phases of the moon. The moon's relationship in it's orbit with regard to the sun is what causes the phases to change. When the moon is between the earth and the sun, it is in a "new moon" phase because the only side of the moon that is lit with sunshine is the far side or the unseen side of the moon. When the earth is between the sun and the moon, the moon is at "full moon" phase. In between these two extremes gives us the 1st quarter and the 3rd quarter phases.


Word that means Different ways the moon appears from earth?

"Phases" of the Moon.