Question

Which statements about the moon’s phases are true? Check all that apply.

The same side of the moon always faces Earth.
The moon shines because it reflects light from Earth.
A new moon occurs when the Sun shines on the side of the moon not facing Earth.
The waning gibbous and waning crescent occur immediately before the full moon.
During the waxing phases of the moon, the side lit by the Sun is not facing Earth.
A full moon happens when the Earth is between the Sun and the moon.

Answer 1

True:
- The same side of the moon always faces Earth. (The Moon is tidally locked, so roughly the same hemisphere faces us.)
- A new moon occurs when the Sun shines on the side of the moon not facing Earth. (At new moon the sunlit side faces away from Earth.)
- A full moon happens when the Earth is between the Sun and the moon. (Full moon is when the Moon is opposite the Sun in our sky.)

False:
- The moon shines because it reflects light from Earth. (It mainly reflects sunlight; Earthshine is minor.)
- The waning gibbous and waning crescent occur immediately before the full moon. (Waning phases occur after full moon; waxing phases occur before full.)
- During the waxing phases of the moon, the side lit by the Sun is not facing Earth. (During waxing the sunlit portion visible from Earth is increasing, so part of the sunlit side faces us.)