Phases of the Moon: question bank

Q1

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

Which of these correctly lists all eight phases of the Moon, in order, starting from new moon?

New, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescentNew, first quarter, waxing crescent, full, last quarter, waning crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbousFull, waxing gibbous, first quarter, waxing crescent, new, waning crescent, last quarter, waning gibbousNew, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full, gibbous, quarter, crescent, new, repeating twice a month

Q2

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

What does it mean for the Moon to be 'waxing'?

The lit fraction is growing, night by nightThe lit fraction is shrinking, night by nightThe Moon is getting physically biggerThe Moon is moving closer to Earth

Q3

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

What does it mean for the Moon to be 'waning'?

The lit fraction is growingThe lit fraction is shrinking, night by nightThe Moon is disappearing foreverThe Moon is spinning faster

Q4

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

A Moon that is less than half lit is called a:

GibbousCrescentQuarterFull

Q5

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

A Moon that is more than half lit, but not full, is called a:

CrescentQuarterGibbousNew

Q6

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

At first quarter, what fraction of the visible disc is lit?

About 25%Exactly 50%About 75%100%

Q7

FoundationNames and shapes of the phases

What is the terminator, as astronomers use the word for the Moon?

A satellite that destroys other satellitesThe line dividing the lit half of the Moon from the dark halfThe edge of a craterThe point where the Moon's orbit crosses Earth's orbit

Q8

CoreNames and shapes of the phases

Why do craters and mountains show up most clearly near the terminator, rather than at full moon?

The Moon is closer to Earth at that timeThe Sun is low in the lunar sky there, so features cast long shadowsThe terminator is a physical wallFull moon light is a different colour

Q9

FoundationWhat you actually see

How much of the Moon's surface is lit by the Sun at any given moment (ignoring eclipses)?

It varies through the month, from 0% to 100%Always exactly half, 50%Always 59%It depends on the season on Earth

Q10

FoundationWhat you actually see

What actually changes to produce the phases, if half the Moon is always lit?

How much of the lit half faces EarthThe brightness of the SunThe size of the MoonEarth's shadow covering different amounts of the Moon

Q11

FoundationWhat you actually see

In the sky over India, a waxing crescent Moon is bright on which side?

The rightThe leftThe topThe bottom

Q12

FoundationWhat you actually see

In the sky over India, a waning crescent Moon is bright on which side?

The rightThe leftBoth sides equallyNeither; it is invisible

Q13

CoreWhat you actually see

You see a Moon that is exactly half-lit, bright on the right side. Which phase is it?

First quarterLast quarterFull moonNew moon

Q14

CoreWhat you actually see

You see a Moon that is exactly half-lit, bright on the left side. Which phase is it?

First quarterLast quarterWaxing gibbousNew moon

Q15

CoreWhat you actually see

Why is the Moon sometimes clearly visible in a daytime sky?

It is a common myth; the Moon is never visible in daylightThe Moon is above the horizon during the day for roughly half of every month, and it reflects enough sunlight to be seen against a blue skyThe Moon only appears in daylight during an eclipseDaytime moons are a different, smaller object

All 75 questions