Phases and Motions of the Moon

We take a look at how the Moon appears to go through phases over the course of about a month. Portions of this video were made possible through the use of Stellarium (www.stellarium.org/) and animations from NASA's Science Vizualization Studio (svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/)
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Watch next: Solar Orbiter Discovers Surprising new Phenomenon in the Sun
• Solar Orbiter Discover...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~

[@roypeaslee1305]

The appearance and disappearance of the moon has boggled my mind for years and in just 15 minutes you have clarified for me everything about the phases of the moon. Thank you.

[@azevedojeff]

This seriously deserves an award. Many thanks sir.

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thank you!

[@lf8994]

Another award from Greece 🙏🙏

[@ShineMetallicaDown]

This is mind-blowing! Thank you for this presentation. I am watching it over and over again.

[@asdfjkl12345]

This is great, especially the final software view. That helps me understand the phases of the moon a lot better. Thank you!

[@MarkCoatesKwadrin]

Wonderful, thank you. Really helped our daughter ahead of a test later in the week.

[@user-be5jr3cx8r]

This was an excellent video showing and explaining the phases of the moon and what we are seeing...thank you for this content!❤

[@XloH911]

Wow this is an incredible video. Thank you so much for explaining and visualising all the phases, especially the synodic vs sidereal.

[@shannonestep5506]

The visual storytelling in this video was truly exceptional. The attention to detail in showcasing the transitions from the waxing crescent to the full moon and then to the waning crescent was simply breathtaking.

[@jandunn169]

Wow finally someone, YOU, explained this with images so I can understand what is actually going on. I am very curious what differences there are in the Southern hemisphere and how the light of the moon at different phases may or may not affect the growth of plants.

[@dmbsaxboyz]

Exactly what I was hoping to find!

[@williamramey1959]

A great explanation of the movement of our bright and wonderful Moon. I tell people that if you were on the Moon, you would see a "night and day" (one axial rotation) on the Moon in about 27.3 Earth days, whereas on Earth, a "night and day" (one axial rotation) is within 24 hours. Thank you again for your clear explanations.

[@-o-1793]

This is what I call quality content. "No Gibberish", "No none sense word play to sound smart" but approaching the entire situation with careful analytical perspective and dissecting it properly. Superb !!!

[@Pianist7137Gaming]

That actual footage is priceless educational material! Was just curious about phases of the moon and searched it up, there is no clearer explanation out there! I like how at such a high speed timelapse it ACTUALLY looks like we're spinning instead of the sun going around the earth😂

[@ahotdj07]

This video was so helpful in understanding the moon phases. Excellent work.

[@33goldengirl]

This video is amazing! Thank you so much!

[@devildoc492]

Excellent...thank you for making this process easier to understand.!!

[@HenryLascelles]

FINALLY I fully understand! Now I see why I only observe crescent moons near the horizon at night and why the moon is often visible in the day. Awesome, thanks!!!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Excellent, I'm glad it helped!

[@whatabouttheearth]

6/12/6/12 .........Midnight 18/6pm 🜨 06/6am .............Noon (Give or take 3 hrs) 1: Rise 2: Zenith 3: Set New moon 🌑 3🜨1 .. 2 Waxing quarter 🌓D ...3 2🜨 ...1 Full moon 🌕 ...2 1🜨3 Waning quarter 🌗C 1 🜨2 3

[@abdullahalmosalami2373]

Extremely helpful visualizations. Wonderful talk. Thank you sir!

[@freemanbill4851]

it is cartwheeling clockwise in the N Hemi

[@amunyemme]

💯💯

[@whatabouttheearth]

It's moving counter clockwise to everyone on earth, it's only because of earths rotation towards the east that makes it seem like it is moving from east to west.

[@trishka1966]

I’m in love with this video! Thank you for your clear and full explanation AND the great models and videos of the sun and moon. I understand so much more!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

I'm so happy you enjoyed it, and thank you for the kind comment!

[@teeyox]

very clear explanation, thanks for the video!

[@eenayeah]

Excellent video!! Brilliant explanation! Thank you!

[@yogeshkapila1179]

A superb video! Thank you so much for putting it through :)

[@stevevonrock2416]

awesome video, i will have to save and watch a few more times to get a full grip on your explanation. well done .thanks for some quality education

[@diganta2329]

Excellent demonstration!

[@crockerrange147]

Many thanks, very helpful to understand the phases of the Moon

[@Mesa3077Boogie]

The best most understandable demonstration yet! Thanks

[@raoulantheunis9179]

you explained it very simply and clearly, thanks

[@XanderBudnick]

Thank you. This was so helpful and exactly what I was looking for

[@jagadeeshpadi1482]

Such a nice presentation.... Keep posting these kind of informative stuff.....Thank you!!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thanks!

[@YuikoYui]

the sun-set was so pretty and all this info is really good for my class its cool and fun to watch.

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thanks, I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@classicamedia]

Wow!!! I have been curious and watched a lot of documentation but did not how moon revolve nor rotate around the earth but this explained it more and more for ...kudos bro. I commend you.. Thanks so much I got a better understanding of it now...

[@jimmyispromo]

Finally! The answers i was looking for

[@esminson]

Thank you. I’ve never seen this so clearly. Sort of blew my mind I didn’t know this. 😞😊

[@navneet3650]

one of the best videos/explanations available online, too less views and likes for such a great quality video!

[@davidhaupt1]

navneet Kumar I totally agree with you

[@khadijadhroliashakir1863]

Amazing explanation of the topic 👍

[@janmangu399]

Thank you so much for your work. This question was bugging me for a week now how moon transition between phases and you explained it nicely with animations.

[@Babayaga-pf5dt]

The best. ‘Nuff said.

[@devp2008]

Wonderful ! Very educational for both adults and kids :) thank you 🙏 ❤

[@igreeuropa]

i love learning about moon

[@daviamurray]

Very informative thank you!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@zack_120]

The best demonstration of moon phases graphically 👍👍 By the way, it is this simple, roughly: the 1st half of the lunar cycle is when the moon chases the sun (closer and closer), whereas the 2nd half is the opposite: the sun chases the moon. When the sun catch up the moon, then a new cycle begins ... Wondering how it is different millions of years ago.

[@Dm5messerly]

Amazing video!

[@rdlv3385]

Great Video!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thanks!

[@alejandrobernalperdomo9118]

That was a really good explanation about the phases of the moon, i didn’t know we always look at the same side of the moon. So that was something new, the use of the animations were so good to understand better what’s is really going on, thank you sr, and it could be a nice theme of conversation. Keep doing well.

[@luisa.torres8333]

Dude where were you at not knowing the moon was always facing one side?

[@chryscollins5933]

Oh my god this video is so freakin good

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nasirabbasj]

Excellent

[@sandyk3128]

Excellent presentation

[@antares3097]

...👍 ' great video.

[@sahibabegum8464]

Soooo fascinating

[@bradjolly7078]

I’m 44 years old and as I saw the crescent moon tonight I began to question again what I thought I understood as to why the moon has its phases. Thank you for your video as it has clarified a lot for me.

[@MA4TU2]

Great teacher!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Wow, thank you!

[@user-jm8no6fl6s]

Nice explanation

[@awwalborodo9062]

Superb and educating video

[@Azn_flame]

Hello there! I have a quick question, im making a video for a school project and i want to use a clip from your video. I won't post this video on youtube or anything like that and i will give you full credit, would this be ok?

[@chaybag]

Can anyone explain to me at 13:53 before sunrise why the dark side of the moon is in the bottom right. Shouldn’t it be in the top right as the sun is still under the horizon. I noticed the exact same thing this morning before sunrise. Same question at 12:38. Seems the dark side of the moon is not where it should be based on where the sun is?

[@sailorman8668]

And clearly, your interpretation of what you're observing is wrong.

[@whatabouttheearth]

Because it's a waning gibbous after full moon. Remember xDOCx, x is new moon, waxing quarter is a D 🌓, waning quarter is a C 🌗 which before hand is 🌖 and before that is 🌕. Because the sunny side is shifting away from our view. x D O C x 🌑 🌓 🌕 🌗 🌑 So what you're referring to is the first one to the right of the full moon here: 🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 Full moon sets around sunrise and rises around sunset. 6/12/6/12 .........Midnight 18/6pm 🜨 06/6am .............Noon (Give or take 3 hrs) 1: Rise 2: Zenith 3: Set New moon 🌑 3🜨1 .. 2 Waxing quarter 🌓D ...3 2🜨 ...1 Full moon 🌕 ...2 1🜨3 Waning quarter 🌗C 1 🜨2 3

[@stewie_]

Amazing explained. I suppose the waxing and waning angle is influenced by seasons.

[@the3brownis]

brilliant explanation along with nice graphics/footage for visualisation!

[@user-cl7gn8th7x]

Thanks for your help and support for the best way to get the best way

[@user-cl7gn8th7x]

Thanks again

[@davidhaupt1]

Excellent illustration and easily understood. Very informative

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thank you!

[@lindayu6585]

This video should be used in science classes. Awesome job!

[@theultimatefactchannel6444]

this really needed for my school project im from allen

[@Mr45Rabbit]

Oooooooo good job I need this for meh exam tom and u good at explaining at this and Tysm :>

[@Jimmy_Johns]

You have finally solved a question I had since I was a kid: Why sometimes can I see the moon during the day? My parents used to say that it was just an ilusion haha that the light somehow bounced or something 😂 Thank you so much!

[@sailorman8668]

Isn't it amazing how many people have ignorant fools for parents.

[@sailorman8668]

If a half moon should actually be referred to as a 'quarter moon', then why isn't a full moon actually referred to as a 'half moon'?

[@clightning300mi]

To confuse the sheeple

[@michael.forkert]

@@clightning300mi_Exactly!_

[@michael.forkert]

@@clightning300mi _the only living being affected by man made pseudoscientific laws is mankind itself._ _nature doesn’t bother herself with perverted man made theories about the phases of the moon, and everything else._ _nature simply ignores all those pseudoscientific self anointed intellectuals, and continues her path as it always has been, and as it always will be._

[@sailorman8668]

@@michael.forkert Speaking of gullible 'sheeple', that would be all these naive and easily fooled flat earth believing clowns, right?

[@usa-1174]

Just like Earth, the moon is always half illuminated. But depending where it's at in it's orbit determines how we see it.

[@ShortsStockton]

Hometown of Baltimore 🔥🔥🔥

[@abhisheksingh-yp7zh]

Really great sir

[@angeepogosian934]

So helpful! Thank you so much!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

My pleasure!

[@KDCMK22]

Anyone noticed over the course of a month the dark "pac man" shape on the moon actually faces the opposite way?

[@swhitham]

Yes!!! unfortunately, he doesn't address this though.

[@yuyo350]

Well done. You just did a great job at teaching there, really appreciate it. Thanks, I'm kind of mind blown right now...

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thanks!

[@petegriffin8149]

I thought the graphics/animate models you used very helpful and easy to follow. This all helps make astronomy fun and easily digested, which is paramount to making folks realise that EVERYONE is or can be excited about space and astronomy..👍😃👍

[@charlesgagne8638]

Shalom! Thanks for the video...

[@adfr909]

Makes it very clear why we see only one side.

[@rochellesumeray4213]

Thank you for this wonderful video presentation which took some designing. Fab.

[@LAPCoins]

GREAT video very helpful

[@kanchankumari540]

One of the best knowledgeable video... I have ever seen...Thanks a lot for making this and try to make another also related universe system...please

[@robertjan002]

Is “light gradually be added to the face of the moon” or do we just see “snapshots” without a gradual increase of light area?

[@CarsynKimrey]

This helps whit my school thanks

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

cool.

[@-curekiki]

Nice! 👍

[@stanleynaing3478]

Wow best documentary video that ever seen and thanks for he good work........

[@scottfillius6979]

Thanks I need this for my test that’s tomorrow

[@Livelaughlovejoy4evr]

Bro same :D

[@urgarbagekid9589]

there are near and far sides of the moon, the near sides have dark spots on the moon while the far sides have highland regions the moon also has a synchronus rotation the far side is hidden from our view from earth we can also only see a portion of the moon. Moon phases depend on where the moon is with respect to the sun in space. The moon takes about a month to orbit the Earth. Although the moon rises in the east and sets in the west each day (due to Earth’s spin), it’s also moving on the sky’s dome each day due to its own motion in orbit around Earth. The moon’s orbital motion is toward the east. Each day, as the moon moves another 12 to 13 degrees toward the east on the sky’s dome, Earth has to rotate a little longer to bring you around to where the moon is in space.

[@DenaTheDoula]

At about 4 minutes into the video, you show two sets of moons; one set small inside and one larger set out the outside. The inside set are highlighted with yellow. What does this set represent? It is confusing to me. Thanks!

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

The inside set shows how the far side (which I colored gold) always faces away from Earth while the near side (which I left uncolored) always faces Earth at all times in its orbit. The outer set shows the phases of the Moon as seen from Earth.

[@CertifiedIkariShinji]

thanks for letting me know i had to figure why the moon does that and in animal crossing the moon does that

[@ruskinyruskiny1611]

Marvellous

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

ruskiny ruskiny thanks!

[@jurikurthambarskjelfir3533]

The ancients used a lunisolar calendar. Whenever the full moon ended, a new month began. As I type this, the moon is no longer full, and December has ended in the lunarsolar calendar.

[@Peterpan2355]

At first you show the Moon traveling the opposite to the stars and the Sun, then later on they all travel the same way. I find it very confusing.

[@izzzzzz6]

If a half moon is actually 1/4 then we should call a full moon a half moon!

[@clightning300mi]

Why do we see the crescent moon in the darkness. Why do we see the full moon during the daytime

[@johnbremner4154]

Best explanation I’ve seen. But explain, please, why the full moon bring the highest tide? Because we know that the moon is always there, even when it’s got phases that we see, so it’s not as if the gravitational force on the seas changes.

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Thanks! The tides are strongest at both full and new phases because the Sun's tidal forces add to the Moon's. I talk about that in a little more detail here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3XUpKmIp99_Y8U

[@johnbremner4154]

@@LaunchPadAstronomy Thanks a lot for that. It’s something I’ve never understood and no other astronomers have been able or willing to attempt an answer...

[@mason7028]

I still cant figure out why you put East at left and West at the right?

[@LaunchPadAstronomy]

Yeah, it's a little confusing at first, but try this out: Go outside and face south. North is behind you, East is to your left and West is to your right. Now look up at the sky. Which way is East?

[@mason7028]

@@LaunchPadAstronomy makes sense, thanks for your reply.

[@whatabouttheearth]

Because in the northern hemisphere the ecliptic, and so therefore the sun, is always more south, especially in the winter when the north pole is titled away from the sun (so therefore the ecliptic and sun is lower on thr north hemisphere horizon). Look for Orions feet to find south. Facing south, west is right and east is left.

[@user-be5jr3cx8r]

So what I'm seeing is there as an eclipse once a month during the new moon phase

[@kitcanyon658]

No because the plane of the moons orbit is tilted. That’s why we don’t have an eclipse every month.

[@clightning300mi]

Why is the new moon invisible when we see the thin crescent . Earth should reflect off of the moon?

[@whatabouttheearth]

What? How can earth reflect it's shadow towards the sun if the sun is what casts the light? On a new moon/dark moon, the moon is in between the earth and sun. On a waxing crescent 🌒 (like a letter D. If x is new moon it goes xDOCx, so remember DOC), the moon slightly shifted so some of the sun light now shines on the part we see. It's still generally between us and the sun until it's at a 90° angle on quarter/half moons (hence neap tides). The earth shadow gets casted in the opposite direction of the sun, not towards the sun

[@tomcat4285]

the best !

[@mrsargemeister]

Can someone kindly explain how is it that the earth does not block the moon from being illuminated on the full moon phase? On the illustrations it appears that the moon should be in Earth's shadow during the full moon phase. Thanks for your help!

[@kitcanyon658]

Because the moons orbital plane is tilted about 5degrees.

[@clightning300mi]

Why around the world people see the full moon during the night and at the same time people see it in the daytime?

[@kitcanyon658]

You don't. You only think it is "full" but it isn't completely. Real numbers matter.

[@clightning300mi]

@@kitcanyon658 at 3 am during a full moon in canada I phoned a friend I know in Australia. He said he saw it in his north east window when the sun was up.

[@sailorman8668]

@@clightning300mi You seem to have doubts about whether the explanation given in this video is correct? Perhaps then, you can offer your own alternative explanation as to what causes the phases of the moon? Incidentally, when there is a very thin crescent moon, the unlit part of the moon's surface can actually be seen, as it is lit by 'earth shine', the exact thing that you claim should happen, as if it doesn't.

[@user-xb1eb9ji8t]

If I was standing on the moon would it be true that during the 27.3 day orbit around the earth i would be in almost complete darkness for approximately 6.8 days and in almost complete light for the same time for each of the orbits around earth

[@roxannatrahan6083]

🤯

[@gc2696]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@aratrikarosy8728]

💚💚💚💚💚