ASTR 1210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Orbital Period, Full Moon, Planetshine
27 Aug 2016
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New moon < waxing crescent < first quarter < waxing gibbous < full moon < Waning gibbous < third/last quarter < waning crescent. Caused by how we see the half part of the moon. It"s about 30 times the diameter of earth. Phases of the moon are the result of varying viewing angles throughout the month. A common misconception is that the phases of the moon are caused by the shadow of the earth. Takes about a week to go from new moon to first quarter, first quarter to full, The time it takes the moon to go through its phases is called the synodic period and is 29. 5 days. The time it takes the moon to orbit the earth with respect to the start is the sidereal period and is 27. 3 days. The orbit of the moon is inclined by 5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic. Phase of moon is linked with when it rises/sets.
