Moon Phases: Why Does the Moon Change? — Reading Comprehension

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. When you look at the Moon in the night sky, it doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it looks like a full circle, and other times, it looks like a thin slice. These different shapes are called phases of the Moon.

Moon phases happen because the Moon moves around Earth in a path called an orbit. As the Moon orbits Earth, sunlight shines on it from different angles. We can only see the part of the Moon that is lit by the Sun. The side that faces away from the Sun is dark.

There are several main phases of the Moon. The new moon is when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, and we cannot see the lit side from Earth. The full moon happens when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and we see the whole lit side. In between these, we see the crescent Moon (a thin slice), the first quarter Moon (half lit), and the gibbous Moon (more than half but not full).

The Moon takes about 29 days to complete one orbit around Earth. This is called a lunar cycle. If you watch the Moon every night, you can see it change through all its phases during this cycle.

Moon phases are important for real life. Long ago, people used the lunar cycle to make calendars and plan when to plant crops. Today, the Moon’s phases help us predict tides in the ocean, which are important for sailing and fishing.

Interesting Fact: The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because the Moon rotates once for every orbit it makes around our planet!

What causes Moon phases?

How long is a lunar cycle?

Which phase shows the whole lit side?

Why do we see only part of the Moon?

How did people use the lunar cycle?

Which phase comes after new moon?

The same side of Moon faces Earth.

What does 'orbit' mean?