Question
Here is the question : WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A PHASE OF THE MOON?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Waxing gibbous
- Waning crescent
- Upper third
- First quarter
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
In a period of 29.5 days, the moon goes through all of its phases. At the beginning of the lunar cycle, the moon is almost completely hidden from view because sunlight is reflecting off its dark side and back toward Earth. Beginning with the waxing crescent phase and continuing through the first quarter, waxing gibbous phase, full moon, declining gibbous phase, third quarter, and waning crescent phase, the moon is finally visible before the new moon.
The moon is one of the most fascinating objects in the night sky, and its phases have long been a source of wonder and mystery for humans. From the full moon to the new moon, each phase of the moon has its own unique characteristics and meanings. However, there are some terms that are often mistakenly thought of as phases of the moon, such as the “upper third,” which is not a real phase of the moon.
The moon’s phases are caused by the changing position of the moon and the sun in relation to the Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, different parts of it are illuminated by the sun, creating the various phases that we see from Earth. The cycle of the moon’s phases takes approximately 29.5 days to complete, and it is divided into eight distinct phases.
The first phase of the moon is the new moon, which occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, and its dark side faces us. The new moon is not visible from Earth, and it marks the beginning of the lunar cycle. The second phase is the waxing crescent, which occurs as the moon begins to move out of its new moon phase. During this phase, a small sliver of the moon becomes visible, gradually increasing in size as it moves towards the first quarter.
The first quarter is the third phase of the moon, occurring when the moon is one quarter of the way through its cycle. During this phase, half of the moon is illuminated, and itappears as a half-circle in the sky. The fourth phase is the waxing gibbous, which occurs as the moon continues to move towards the full moon phase. During this phase, more than half of the moon is illuminated, and its shape begins to resemble a “fat” crescent.
The fifth phase is the full moon, which occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun and is fully illuminated. The full moon is one of the most well-known and celebrated phases of the moon, and it has been associated with various cultural and religious traditions throughout history. The sixth phase is the waning gibbous, which occurs as the moon begins to move away from the full moon phase. During this phase, the moon appears as a “shrinking” fat crescent.
The seventh phase is the third quarter, occurring when the moon is three-quarters of the way through its cycle. During this phase, half of the moon is once again illuminated, but this time it is the opposite half from the first quarter phase. Finally, the eighth phase is the waning crescent, which occurs as the moon moves towards its new moon phase once again. During this phase, only a small sliver of the moon is visible, gradually decreasing in size until it disappears completely.
While the eight phases of the moon are well-established and scientifically recognized, there are some terms that are often mistakenly used to describe the moon’s appearance. One such term is the “upper third,” which is not areal phase of the moon. This term may refer to the position of the moon in the sky, but it does not reflect any specific phase of the lunar cycle.