Teaching article
Moon phases are not ordinary Earth-shadow events
Use authoritative diagrams to compare the two explanations.
The dark portion of a Moon image can invite the wrong explanation. Compare authoritative phase and eclipse diagrams, reading their geometry and captions rather than assuming that similar-looking darkness has the same cause.
Ordinary phases are not caused by Earth's shadow covering the Moon.
Compare the explanations behind the diagrams
Read the diagrams' explanations before drawing a comparison. Similar-looking dark areas can result from different geometric relationships.
Read each explanation. Identify the role of alignment. Compare causes.
Do not use a shadow shortcut for phases.
Which diagram explains a phase? Discuss one diagram at a time.
Resources
- Moon Observation Log — Record dated observations or sourced image descriptions.
Further reading
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