Extended reading
- NASA's Moon Phases and Libration: NASA Moon Phases and Libration
NASA's website has cool stuff about the moon! It shows you how the moon looks different each night. They also explain why the moon sometimes seems to wiggle when we look at it from Earth.
- Time and Date: Time and Date - Moon Phases
This website helps you learn about the moon's phases. It has a special calendar that tells you when the moon will be full, half, or just a sliver. You can use it to see when the next full moon will be!
- The Old Farmer's Almanac: The Old Farmer's Almanac - Moon Phases
This website is like a wise old friend who knows all about the moon! It tells you when to plant your garden based on the moon's phase. It also shares stories about what people used to believe about the moon.
- EarthSky: EarthSky - Moon Phases
EarthSky is a super fun website that talks about space stuff, including the moon! It tells you when to look up at the sky to see the moon change shape. It also talks about cool events like when the moon hides during an eclipse.
- National Geographic: National Geographic - Moon
National Geographic has amazing pictures of the moon and stories about it too! It helps you understand why the moon looks different each night. You can also learn about astronauts who have been to the moon.
Video about moon phases
Why we see different moon phases.
It's because of how the moon moves around the Earth and how sunlight shines on it.
You see, the moon doesn't have its own light; it reflects light from the sun. So, as the moon moves around the Earth, different parts of it get lit up by the sun, and that's what causes the different phases.
Whether you're in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, you'll see the same phases, but they might look a bit different. It's because of something called "perspective." Imagine you and a friend are standing on opposite sides of a big round ball, like a basketball. If you both look at a dot on the ball, it will appear to be in different places depending on where you're standing, right?
What is Lunation?
"Lunation" is a term used to describe the complete cycle of phases that the Moon goes through, from one new moon to the next.
Think of a lunation like a cycle for the moon. It starts when the moon is a tiny sliver in the sky, and it ends when it's a full, round circle. Then it starts all over again. So, a lunation is just the time it takes for the moon to go through all its different shapes and come back to where it started.
How to Use:
- See the moon phase emojis for the current date, the day before, and the day after.
- Copy emojis by click on it if you want to use them.
- Learn the names of each moon phase.
Areas of Use:
- Education: Perfect for students learning about astronomy.
- Communication: Express the current moon phase in a fun and visual way.
- Curiosity: Satisfy your curiosity about the moon's appearance on specific dates.
Features:
- Emojis for Every Phase: Easily understand and identify the moon's phase using emojis.
- Copy and Share: Copy moon phase emojis to share or use in your messages and social media posts.
- Learn Moon Names: Discover the names of different moon phases and enhance your lunar knowledge.
