Astronomy 1021 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Lunar Phase, Full Moon

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 1021
• Professor: Robert Cockcroft

Document Summary

As the earth orbits the sun, the moon orbits around the earth, completing one loop roughly every four weeks. At any point in its orbit, half of the moon is illuminated by the sun (just as half of the earth is always illuminated by the sun). The same side of the moon always faces the earth. The illuminated portion of the moon however, does not always face the earth. Because the moon makes exactly one rotation around its own axis during each of its orbital revolutions around the earth. The orbital position of the moon determines both the lunar phase and the time of day th which the moon rises and sets. First quarter moon will rise at noon.