Why do moon phases appear different in different hemispheres?

Answer 1

The Moon appears to change shape because we see different amounts of the lit part as the Moon orbits Earth. When the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, the lit side is hidden from us. As it moves around Earth, more and more of the lit side comes into view. Then it begins to disappear again.

(source: Google.com)

Answer 2

I believe the only difference will be that in the north, the shadow appears to move across the moon from right to left, and in the south the shadow appears to move from left to right. Apart from that, the timing of the phases is the same. The apparent difference in direction happens because observers in the north are looking toward the south as they view the moon. The 'upper' edge of the moon is the northernmost edge, and the lower edge is the southernmost edge. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere are looking at the same moon, but for them the 'upper' edge of the moon is the southern edge. The lower edge is the northernmost edge, the one that we see as the 'top'. For another way of understanding it, do this on a night when the moon is roughly half lit and half dark. Stand outside with your back to the moon. With the help of a couple of friends, bend over backwards (don't turn around) until you can see the moon. You are now seeing it from roughly the same perspective as a person at your relative latitude in the other hemisphere (your latitude times minus one). Which side looks lit?

Answer 3

The Moon takes 29 days to orbit the Earth.

At New Moon the Earth Moon and Sun are in a straight line, in that order, and there may be a Solar Eclipse.

During the next seven days the Moon moves on its orbit about the Earth., and is now a 'right-angles' between the Moon, Earth, and Sun , with the Earth at the corner of the right-angle. At this point we may see half a Moon in the evening/early night sky, known as the 'first quarter'.

At the end of the second lot of seven days, the Moon continues on its orbit about the Earth, and is now in a straight line again, However, this time the order is Moon, Earth ,and Sun. At this point we see a full circular bright Moon, in the night sky. It is known as a 'Full Moon;.

At the end of the third lot on seven days, the Moon has continued on its orbit about the Earth, and is now a 'right-angles' between the Moon , Earth and Sun. At this point we see a 'Half Moon'. in the late night /early morning sky. The half moon we see is the other half not seen in the evening sky. ; the shape is the opposite. It is known as the 'Last Quarter'.

Finally, at the end of the last seven days ( (28)/29 days) we have a New Moon again.

Between New Moon and first quarter it is called a 'waxing crescent'.

Between First Quarter and Full Moon it is called a 'waxing gibbous'.

Between Full Moon and Last Quarterit is called a 'waning gibbous'.

Between Last Quarter and New Moon it is called a 'waning crescent'.

In very clear weather in the evening or morning crescent Moons , the ghost of the full orb of the Moon can be seen. It is said to be ' The old/new Moon with the New/Old Moon in her arms'.

The Moon is known to 'pull' the tides. , but is thought to affect many other things in nature too!!!

Full Moons often send people a bit mad (lunatics) ; dogs often bark more.

The Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipsoid ( an ellipse that doesn;t quite close up with each orbit. The Earth rests at one of the foci, NOT the centre of the ellipse. This effects the speed or orbit about the Earth. Also the plane of the Moon's orbit is slightly angled to the plane of the Earth's orbit about the Sun , hence we do not see eclipse at every New/Full Moon. It is only when these two planes intercept at the point of the New/Full Moon that we see an eclipse.

The Sun, Earth, and Moon do not follow a smooth curve through space, but 'wobble'. They 'dance' through space.

Hope that helps!!!!

Answer 4

The phase of the moon you see depends on how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces earth.

Answer 5

The moon shows phases due to its orbit around the Earth. We see these different phases because of the light of the Sun reflecting off the moon while the Earth blocks some from reaching it.

Answer 6

The angle between the moon and sun changes constantly, so it looks to us like only part of the moon is lit at any one time, except for full moon. A good set of pictures is in the link below.

Answer 7

The moon has different phases because the Sun shines on it from different angles.

Answer 8

The moon's phases are nothing more than our view of the lunar day unfolding over the course of a full lunar cycle. The lunar day is the same length as a full cycle of lunar phases.

Answer 9

No it doesn't.