Phases of the Moon

Question 1

A 28‑day month starts with a New Moon on day 1. Which of the following lists the Moon’s phases in the exact order they appear from day 1 through day 28?

Accepted Answer

New → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → Waxing Gibbous → Full → Waning Gibbous → Last Quarter → Waning Crescent → New

Answer

New → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → Waning Gibbous → Full → Waxing Gibbous → Last Quarter → Waning Crescent → New

Answer

New → Waning Crescent → First Quarter → Waxing Crescent → Full → Waxing Gibbous → Last Quarter → Waning Gibbous → New

Answer

New → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → Waxing Gibbous → Full → Waning Crescent → Last Quarter → Waning Gibbous → New

Question 2

An observer on Earth sees a waxing gibbous Moon (more than half of the Moon’s face is illuminated, and the illuminated part is growing). Which of the following statements correctly describes the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon that produce this appearance?

Accepted Answer

The Moon is on the far side of Earth from the Sun, but not exactly opposite, so more than half of the near side is illuminated.

Answer

The Moon is directly opposite the Sun with Earth between them, so the entire near side of the Moon is illuminated.

Answer

The Moon is between Earth and the Sun, with the Sun lighting only a thin sliver of the Moon’s near side.

Answer

The Moon is on the far side of Earth from the Sun, and Earth’s shadow is falling on the Moon, causing a dark portion.

Question 3

On a clear evening the Sun is low in the western sky. At exactly the same time the Moon is high in the eastern sky, appearing 90° away from the Sun’s direction. Which lunar phase will an observer see, and why does it appear that way?

Accepted Answer

A first‑quarter Moon, because the Sun‑Earth‑Moon angle is 90°, so we see half of the Moon’s sunlit side.

Answer

A waning crescent Moon, because the Earth’s shadow is beginning to cover most of the Moon.

Answer

A full Moon, because the Sun, Earth, and Moon are lined up with Earth in the middle.

Answer

A new Moon, because the Moon is directly between the Sun and Earth, showing its dark side.

Try three questions

A 28‑day month starts with a New Moon on day 1. Which of the following lists the Moon’s phases in the exact order they appear from day 1 through day 28?

An observer on Earth sees a waxing gibbous Moon (more than half of the Moon’s face is illuminated, and the illuminated part is growing). Which of the following statements correctly describes the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon that produce this appearance?

On a clear evening the Sun is low in the western sky. At exactly the same time the Moon is high in the eastern sky, appearing 90° away from the Sun’s direction. Which lunar phase will an observer see, and why does it appear that way?

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