G3-SEC-L24-01-24-2023 The Different Stages of the Moon

Hello, Grade 3 astronomers! Today, let's embark on an exciting journey to explore the different stages of the moon, those captivating changes it goes through in the night sky. New Moon: The moon begins its cycle as a new moon. During this stage, it's completely dark and not visible from Earth. It's like the moon is taking a little break before putting on its dazzling show. Waxing Crescent: As the moon starts to show a tiny sliver of light, we enter the waxing crescent phase. It's a bit like a smile in the night sky, growing each day. First Quarter: The first quarter moon is when half of it is illuminated. It looks like a half-circle, and this is when we can see the right half of the moon. Waxing Gibbous: Moving on, the moon becomes waxing gibbous, showing even more of its illuminated side. It's like the moon is getting ready for the main act. Full Moon: Ah, the full moon, the star of the show! The moon is fully illuminated and shines brightly in the night sky, casting its gentle glow on the Earth. Waning Gibbous: After its grand performance, the moon starts to wane. Waning gibbous is when it still looks mostly full but begins to shrink. Last Quarter: The last quarter moon shows the left half illuminated. It's like the moon is saying goodbye, preparing for its brief disappearance. Waning Crescent: Finally, the moon becomes a waning crescent, a slender crescent shape in the sky. It's the moon's way of getting some rest before starting the cycle again.