How The Moon Moves

Key Notes:

The Moon Moves Around the Earth

• The Moon orbits (goes around) the Earth.
• It takes about 27.3 days to complete one orbit.

The Moon Spins Too

• The Moon rotates (spins) on its axis.
• It takes the same amount of time (27.3 days) to spin once as it does to orbit the Earth.

We Always See the Same Side

• Because the Moon rotates and orbits at the same speed, we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth.

The Moon Does Not Make Its Own Light

• The Moon reflects sunlight. That’s why it appears to shine.

Phases of the Moon

As the Moon moves, the shape we see changes. These changes are called the phases of the Moon:

• New Moon
• Crescent Moon
• First Quarter
• Gibbous Moon
• Full Moon

Then the phases reverse back to New Moon.

Why Phases Happen

• Phases occur because of how the Sun, Earth, and Moon are lined up.
• The angle of sunlight hitting the Moon changes as it orbits Earth.

The Moon Affects Earth

• The Moon’s movement causes tides in the oceans.