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What is the Moon phases when the entire visible portion is seen from Earth?

2 Answers

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Final answer:

The Moon is in the Full Moon phase when the entire visible portion is seen from Earth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Moon goes through different phases as it orbits around the Earth, with the amount of the visible portion changing throughout the month. When the entire visible portion of the Moon is seen from Earth, it is in the phase called Full Moon.

During a Full Moon, the side of the Moon facing the Sun is also facing Earth, resulting in the entire visible half of the Moon being illuminated.

User Hardi
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5 votes

Answer:

full moon

Step-by-step explanation:

You want to know the moon phase in which the whole disk of the moon is lit.

Phases

The phases of the moon are ...

  • new moon – unlit
  • first quarter – half lit
  • full moon – whole disk lit
  • last quarter – half lit

The phase of the moon in which the whole disk is lit is the Full Moon.

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Additional comment

The full moon occurs when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. If they are in perfect alignment, the full moon is obscured by the Earth's shadow, causing a lunar eclipse.

At any given time, the sun lights up slightly more than half of the side of the moon it faces. Slightly less than half of the side of the moon facing Earth is visible at any given time. Because the moon's orbit is inclined about 5.1° with respect to the plane of the Earth's orbit, most often, the full moon is not quite a full circle as viewed from Earth.

At times other than a full or new moon, whether the right half or the left half of the moon is lit depends on whether you are viewing from the northern or southern hemisphere.

User Karel Kubat
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