MOON PHASES

A lunar phase or phase of the moon is the appearance of the illuminated (sunlit) portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth. The lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. The half of the lunar surface facing the Sun is always sunlit, but the portion of this illuminated hemisphere that is visible to an observer on Earth can vary from about 100% (full moon) to 0% (new moon). The lunar terminator is the boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated hemispheres.

Why this phenomena happen ? Just like Earth, half of the moon is lit by the sun, and half is in shadow at any given time. As the moon travels around the Earth, we see the moon from different angles, and thus can see different percentages of light and shadow.

Because the time between two full Moons doesn't quite equal a whole month, approximately every three years there are two full Moons in one calendar month. Over the past few decades, the second full Moon has come to be known as a "blue Moon."

To support this article, you can read more about moon phase in this. This blog will help you to understand about moon phase. This blog is useful.

Created by : Dessy Oktavia