Night Watchers

If we slow down and take a look, we can discover amazing things at night! Let's explore the phases of the moon, notice changes in the sky, and learn about the things we can’t see during the day.

Ever notice the moon changing shape? It’s not shrinking or growing, it’s going through phases!  The moon doesn’t make its own light. We see it because sunlight reflects off it. As the moon orbits Earth, we see different parts of its lit side. This cycle takes about 29.5 days. During this time, the moon goes through eight phases:

New Moon
Can’t see it! The moon is between Earth & Sun.

Waxing Crescent
A sliver of light on the right.

First Quarter
Half-lit moon on the right.

Waxing Gibbous
More than half full, growing!

Full Moon
Whole face lit up!

Waning Gibbous
Shrinking now, light on the left.

Last Quarter
Half-lit again, but on the left.

Waning Crescent
Almost gone… back to new!

Pro Tip: You don’t need a telescope to be a moon scientist—just look up, observe, and wonder!