gyankalakumbhKNOWLEDGE. ART. POSSIBILITY.The Moon changes its face. Why?
The Moon is not losing a piece every night.
Here is what is happening.
The Sun illuminates half of the Moon. As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of that illuminated half. This produces phases, repeating in about 29.5 days. Ordinary phases are not caused by Earth’s shadow; that is involved in a lunar eclipse.
Pause. Make the idea your own.
Explain one idea to a partner, draw it or write it in your own words. Which part is an observation, an example or a question?
You can use a home language. No need to share personal experiences or finish everything in one sitting.Your little investigation
Paper, or NASA’s phase diagram below. Observe only from a safe place with an adult when needed. Never look at the Sun.
Draw the bright part of the Moon on three observation dates, if visible.
Record time and cloud cover; “not visible” is a valid observation.
Compare the sequence with NASA’s explanation. Separate observations from predictions.