Moon Phases and Eclipses - ScienceKid.org

The Moon appears to change shape every night — but it is not actually changing. Learn how the Moon's orbit creates phases, and why sometimes the Moon turns red or the Sun disappears in the middle of the day.

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Q1 Question 1 of 10

What causes the Moon to appear to change shape from night to night?

Earth's shadow falls on different parts of the Moon each night The Moon rotates to show us different sides As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different portions of its sunlit half Clouds on the Moon change its appearance

Q2 Question 2 of 10

How long does it take for the Moon to go through all its phases once?

About 24 hours About 7 days About 29.5 days About 365 days

Q3 Question 3 of 10

What phase is the Moon in when it is positioned between Earth and the Sun?

Full Moon First Quarter New Moon Third Quarter

Q4 Question 4 of 10

During which Moon phase can a solar eclipse occur?

Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Waxing Gibbous

Q5 Question 5 of 10

During which Moon phase can a lunar eclipse occur?

New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Waning Crescent

Q6 Question 6 of 10

Why do we not have a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse every month?

The Moon is too small to cause eclipses most of the time The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees relative to Earth's orbit, so it usually passes above or below the Sun's line Eclipses only happen in certain seasons The Moon moves too fast to line up with the Sun

Q7 Question 7 of 10

Why does the Moon appear reddish-orange during a total lunar eclipse?

The Moon heats up when in shadow and glows red The Moon's surface is red-coloured rock Sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere bends red light onto the Moon while scattering blue light away Mars reflects red light onto the Moon during an eclipse

Q8 Question 8 of 10

What does 'waxing' mean when describing the Moon's phases?

The Moon is getting physically larger The Moon is moving closer to Earth The lit portion of the Moon visible from Earth is growing larger The Moon is rising earlier each night

Q9 Question 9 of 10

At First Quarter, what does the Moon look like?

Only a thin sliver is visible Three-quarters of the Moon appears lit The full disk is lit Half of the Moon's face appears lit — it looks like a D shape

Q10 Question 10 of 10

How is a total solar eclipse different from a partial solar eclipse?

A total eclipse lasts longer than a partial eclipse A total eclipse can only be seen from space In a total eclipse the Moon completely covers the Sun; in a partial eclipse only part of the Sun is blocked Total eclipses involve the Moon and partial eclipses involve other planets

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