Instructions
Most of us have looked up at the Moon at different times. You have noticed that the Moon has
different appearances (phases). Sometimes it’s full. Sometimes it’s a crescent. Sometimes it’s somewhere
between the two. These are called the Moons phases. The Moon has eight: New moon, Waxing
crescent moon, First quarter moon, Waxing Gibbous, Full moon, Waning gibbous moon, Third quarter
moon, and Waning crescent moon. Review your lecture notes and research on the web to become more
familiar with them.
In this lab, you will track the Moon 31 days (a month’s time). Each day, you must record the
phase name (Full, New, Waxing gibbous etc), the numerical phase (when clicking on the Moon in
Stellarium, it is near the bottom above “illuminated”, the Az/Alt of the Earth and the Sun. Use
Stellarium

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Hint: You should center on the Moon and move time by day increments. Zoom in so you can see the
Moon’s features. Use your best judgment when stopping one phase and starting another.