Question

Identify the phases of the Moon if at sunset in the Northern Hemisphere the Moon is: (a) near the eastern horizon, (b) high in the southern sky, (c) in the southeastern sky, (d) in the southwestern sky.

Answer 1

The moon phases are the apparent changes of the visible illuminated portion of the satellite, due to its change of position with respect to the Earth and the Sun. I will leave a graph that allows us to understand what happens with each of the phases of the moon and describe what happens for an observer in the northern hemisphere.

A) In the case of the position of the moon is near to eastern horizon at the sunset, then the phase of the moon is full.

B) In the case of the position of the moon is high in the southern sky at the sunset, then the phase of the moon is 1st quarter

C) In the case of the position of the moon is in the southeastern sky at the sunset, then the phase of the moon is waxing gibbous

D) In the case of the position of the moon is in the southwestern sky at the sunset, then the phase of the moon is waxing crescent