Why are there phases of the moon for kids

At that point, the far side of the Moon is facing the Sun. This phase is called a new moon. During the new moon, the side facing Earth is dark. Waxing means it is getting bigger.

Waning means it is getting smaller. It is the opposite half as illuminated in the first quarter moon. The Moon displays these eight phases one after the other as it moves through its cycle each month. It takes 27 days for the Moon to orbit Earth. That means the Moon's cycle is 27 days long.

Supermoon take place each year between March and May. Traditionally any full moon that occurred in April was called a pink moon because it marked the blooming of Moss pink a wildflower. Other animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases, as seen from the southern hemisphere in Animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases, as seen from the northern hemisphere.

The apparent wobbling of the Moon is known as libration. The apparent change in size is due to the eccentricity of the lunar orbit. A crescent moon above Earth's horizon is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member in What is the phase of the moon? The lunar phase is the amount of the Moon you can see from Earth depending on how much of it is lit up by the sun.

This amount changes each day. What causes part of the Moon to be lit up? The moon is illuminated because it reflects the light from the sun. The part of the moon facing the sun is lit up. The part facing away from the sun is in darkness. What causes the different phases of the Moon? The phases of the Moon depend on its position in relation to the Sun and Earth. As the Moon makes its way around the Earth, we see the bright parts of the Moon's surface at different angles.

These are called "phases" of the Moon. What are the different phases of the Moon called? The phases of the moon work in a cycle starting with the new moon.