Moon Observation Journal

Spend the next month getting to know the Moon.

Observe the Moon each day for a month. Write down the date and time you make each observation, and draw what you see. If you cannot see the Moon at all on a day, no matter when you look, indicate this in your journal and also write down why you could not see the Moon.

Questions:

1. Did the Moon look the same each day? If not, describe how it changed throughout the month.
2. Did you see the Moon at the same time each day? Was there a pattern to the time you were able to observe it? If so, describe the pattern.
3. Did anything prevent you from being able to see the Moon this month? If so, what? Could you figure out what the Moon would have looked like if you could have seen it? If so, how?
4. Look up information on the phases of the Moon and indicate in your Moon Observation Journal where you think the Moon most closely matched each of the following phases:
   Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, Waning Crescent, and New Moon.
5. How do you think the Moon’s appearance will change during the next week?
6. What questions do you have about the Moon or eclipses? See if you can find answers and then share what you learn with your friends and family.

Some places you can find information about the Moon and its connection to planetary science and exploration are:

• NASA’s Moon Site: science.nasa.gov/moon
• Lunar eclipses: science.nasa.gov/moon/eclipses
• Solar eclipses: science.nasa.gov/eclipses