Eclipses and Moon Phases Flashcards

Flashcards covering the phases of the moon, types of solar and lunar eclipses, and the mechanics of spring and neap tides.

The change in the appearance of the moon from Earth due to the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon is known as the __________.

lunar phase

During the __________ phase, the moon is between the Sun and Earth and appears dark from Earth because the bright side faces the Sun.

NEW MOON

A small part of the moon that begins to appear bright as a thin crescent in the western sky at dusk is called a(n) __________.

WAXING CRESCENT

During the __________ phase, the moon appears as a semicircle with the right half appearing bright.

FIRST QUARTER

The phase occurring when more than half of the moon is bright is known as __________.

WAXING GIBBOUS

When the Moon, Earth, and Sun are aligned and the entire surface of the Moon facing Earth is bright, it is a(n) __________.

FULL MOON

After the full moon, the light portion of the moon begins to decrease during the __________ phase.

WANING GIBBOUS

In the __________ phase, the left half of the moon appears bright.

LAST QUARTER

A(n) __________ occurs when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to enter the Earth's shadow.

Lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse happens when the Moon is completely covered by the Earth's core shadow, also called the __________.

umbra

A(n) __________ lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon enters a faint shadow.

Penumbral

A(n) __________ occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, blocking some or all of the Sun's light.

Solar Eclipse

A(n) __________ solar eclipse occurs when the Sun looks like a ring because the Moon appears smaller.

Annular

The phases of the moon occur every month, which is approximately every __________ days.

$$27$$

Eclipses do not occur every month because the moon's orbit is tilted about __________ to Earth's orbit.

$$5^\circ$$

The regular rise and fall of sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun is defined as __________.

Tides

The __________ has the greatest influence on tides because it is closer to Earth.

Moon

A(n) __________ occurs when the Moon, Earth, and Sun are in a straight line, resulting in very high high tides and very low low tides.

SPRING TIDE

Spring tides occur during the New Moon and the __________ moon phases.

Full Moon

A(n) __________ occurs when the Moon and Sun form a __________ angle with the Earth.

NEAP TIDE; $90^\circ$

Neap tides occur during the First Quarter and __________ phases.

Third quarter