Where does the moon go?

 

Where does the moon go?

The moon takes a month to travel around the Earth. Depending on where it is on that journey, different amounts of sunlight are reflected off the moon’s surface. Sometimes it seems to disappear altogether. In reality, though, the moon is always there—we just can’t always see sunlight reflecting off it. From Earth, we only ever see the same side of the moon.

 

Reflected light

The moon doesn’t make light of its own. It only reflects the sun’s light.

 

Light and dark

The side of the moon facing the sun is lit up, while the other side facing away from the sun is in shadow.

 

Lunar phases

The moon appears to change shape during its monthly journey when seen from Earth.

 

New moon-Waxing crescent-First quarter-Waxing gibbous-Full moon-Waning gibbous-Last quarter-Waning crescent-New moon..

 

Orbits

The Earth moves around the sun in a loop called an orbit. At the same time, the moon orbits around the Earth.

 

The Earth orbits the sun.

The moon orbits the Earth.

 

Which other planets have moons?

 

Jupiter

Jupiter has 53 moons. One moon, lo, has many active volcanoes on it. Another, called Europa, is covered in ice!

 

Saturn

Saturn has at least 53 moons. One of its moons, called Titan, is made from ice and rock and has a layer of gases around it.

 

Quick quiz

Who was the first person on the moon?