Page 56 - Grade 5 Illustrated Science Dictionary

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New Moon

This is the invisible phase of the Moon, with the illuminated side of the

Moon facing the Sun and the night side facing Earth. In this phase,

the Moon is in the same part of the sky as the Sun and rises and sets

with the Sun. Not only is the illuminated side facing away from the

Earth, it’s also up during the day! Remember, in this phase, the Moon

doesn’t usually pass directly between Earth and the Sun, due to the
inclination of the Moon’s orbit. It only passes near the Sun from our

perspective on Earth.

Waxing Crescent

This silver sliver of a Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the
Moon faces mostly away from Earth, with only a tiny portion visible to

us from our planet. It grows daily as the Moon’s orbit carries the

Moon’s dayside farther into view. Every day, the Moon rises a little bit

later.