The Phases of the Moon

[Download/Play Movie (3.2 MB; MPEG-4 Format)]

This movie shows the Moon orbiting the Earth, both illuminated by a distant (and off-screen) Sun. It zooms to the view of the Moon from the Earth at various points during the Moon's orbit, showing the Moon at half, gibbous, full, and crescent phases. (And, yes, the same face of the moon is always pointed towards the Earth.)

As with many of my movies, there is no narration or sound. It's designed to be used by a lecturer, who will pause it at opportune places to discuss it or ask questions of students.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Earth and Moon textures by Tor Øera. (http://www.oera.net/How2/TextureMaps.html.)

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