145k views
19 votes
Lunar phases occur when the moon appears to change shape as seen from earth. What causes different phases of the moon?.

User Alchuang
by
7.0k points

1 Answer

14 votes

Answer: The moon is said to be in full phase when the illuminated half of the moon is fully in position for us to see it. The "new moon" phase of the lunar cycle happens when the sun, moon, and earth are located in a straight line, with the moon between the earth and the sun. The moon is said to be in a "waxing" phase when it is moving from the new moon phase into the full moon phase. During this time, the amount of visible, illuminated moon will be gradually growing. The moon is said to be in a "waning" phase when it is moving from the full moon phase into the new moon phase. During this time, the visible portion of the moon will appear to be shrinking. A crescent moon occurs close to the new and full moon stages, whether the moon is waxing or waning. At this time, only a small sliver of the illuminated moon is visible to us.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Atereshkin
by
6.7k points