The Moon

Phases of the Moon I

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Only the Sun produces light by itself. The Earth and Moon only reflect the light they receive from the Sun. Because the Earth and Moon are round, areas that receive sunlight appear bright and areas that do not receive sunlight appear dark. Notice how the illuminated area of the Moon changes as the lunar cycle progresses.

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Phases of the Moon II

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Only the Sun produces light by itself. The Earth and Moon only reflect the light they receive from the Sun. Because the Earth and Moon are round, areas that receive sunlight appear bright and areas that do not receive sunlight appear dark. Observe how the phases of the Moon are generated by changing its position with respect to the source of the light.

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Hidden side of the Moon

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Why do we only see one side of the Moon? This is because the rotation speed of the Moon and its translation speed with respect to the Earth is the same and that makes that, from the Earth, we always see the same face of the Moon.

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Actual sizes of the Earth, the Moon and its orbit

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This simulation allows us to see to scale what is the size of the Earth, the Moon and the Moon's orbit around the Earth..

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