The Moon's movement around the Earth causes the changes in ______.

The Moon's movement around the Earth causes the changes in ______.

• A. orbits
• B. phases
• C. eclipses
• D. distance

Answer: (B)

As the Moon moves around Earth, the Sun illuminates different parts of the Moon that we can see from here. The phase we observe—new, crescent, first quarter, full, and so on—depends on the angle between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. When the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, we see a new Moon; when it’s opposite the Sun, we see a full Moon; at the sides, we see the half-lit (quarter) phases. The distance from Earth changes the apparent size a bit, but not the phase itself. Eclipses are rare alignments and not the regular pattern of phases.

As the Moon moves around Earth, the Sun illuminates different parts of the Moon that we can see from here. The phase we observe—new, crescent, first quarter, full, and so on—depends on the angle between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. When the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, we see a new Moon; when it’s opposite the Sun, we see a full Moon; at the sides, we see the half-lit (quarter) phases. The distance from Earth changes the apparent size a bit, but not the phase itself. Eclipses are rare alignments and not the regular pattern of phases.