Printable moon phases chart
Labeled moon phases diagram · 1 page
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The phase wheel from our interactive moon phases explorer, drawn in black and white. Sunlight comes from the left. The inner ring shows the Moon at eight places in its orbit, always half lit by the Sun; the outer ring shows how each one looks from Earth, labeled in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter and waning crescent.
Because it shows both views at once, the chart explains why the phases happen, not just what they look like. Pictures are drawn as seen from the Northern Hemisphere; in the Southern Hemisphere the lit side is flipped.
Tips for using it
- Shade the dark part of each outer moon with pencil to make the phases pop.
- Ask children to trace the Moon's path counterclockwise with a finger and name each phase as they go.
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Questions
Why are there two rings of moons on the chart?
The inner ring shows the Moon in space, always half lit by the Sun. The outer ring shows how that same Moon looks from Earth. Comparing them shows why the phases change.
Is the chart to scale?
No. The real Moon is about 30 Earth widths away and much smaller than shown. The chart is drawn to show the angles that make the phases.