Moon phases diagram with matching definitions and word bank for learning.

Let's solve this step by step.

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Part 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct moon phases

We are given a diagram showing the Moon’s orbit around Earth, with images of the Moon at different positions. The arrow indicates the direction of the Moon’s orbit (counterclockwise). We need to label each image with the correct phase using the word bank:

Word Bank:
- Waxing Gibbous
- First Quarter
- Waxing Crescent
- Full Moon
- Waning Crescent
- New Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Third Quarter

Let’s analyze the positions starting from the New Moon, which occurs when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun — we cannot see the lit side.

We’ll go clockwise around the orbit (following the arrow), identifying the phases.

#### Step-by-step analysis:

1. Position directly between Earth and Sun (hidden side):
→ This is the New Moon (no visible illuminated part).

2. Moving clockwise, next position:
- A small sliver on the right side is lit → Waxing Crescent
(“Waxing” means increasing; crescent = narrow shape)

3. Next:
- Half of the Moon is lit on the right side → First Quarter

4. Next:
- More than half lit, right side → Waxing Gibbous

5. Opposite Earth (fully lit):
→ Full Moon

6. Next (after full moon):
- More than half lit, but now the left side is lit → Waning Gibbous

7. Next:
- Half lit, light on the left side → Third Quarter

8. Next:
- Small sliver on the left side → Waning Crescent

9. Back to start:
- No visible light → New Moon

Now, let’s assign these labels to the image positions.

Looking at the diagram:

- Top center: Waxing Crescent
- Top right: First Quarter
- Right: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: Full Moon
- Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
- Left: Third Quarter
- Top left: Waning Crescent
- Center top (between Earth and Sun): New Moon

But wait — in the diagram, the New Moon is not shown as an image (it’s hidden), so likely the blank near Earth is New Moon.

Let’s match the boxes:

From the diagram:

1. Top left image: shows a thin crescent on the left → Waning Crescent
2. Top center image: thin crescent on the right → Waxing Crescent
3. Top right image: half lit on the right → First Quarter
4. Right image: more than half lit, right side → Waxing Gibbous
5. Bottom right image: fully lit → Full Moon
6. Bottom left image: more than half lit, left side → Waning Gibbous
7. Left image: half lit on the left → Third Quarter
8. Bottom center: thin crescent on the left? Wait — bottom center is not labeled. Let's check the layout.

Wait — actually, looking at the diagram:

There are eight boxes around the orbit:

- Top left: image with thin crescent on left → Waning Crescent
- Top center: thin crescent on right → Waxing Crescent
- Top right: half lit on right → First Quarter
- Right: large portion lit on right → Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: full moon → Full Moon
- Bottom left: large portion lit on left → Waning Gibbous
- Left: half lit on left → Third Quarter
- Bottom center: thin crescent on left → Waning Crescent?

Wait — no, there are only eight images, but the orbit has eight positions.

Actually, rechecking: There are eight images placed around the orbit, one for each phase.

Let’s number them clockwise from the top left:

1. Top left: crescent, lit on left → Waning Crescent
2. Top center: crescent, lit on right → Waxing Crescent
3. Top right: half lit on right → First Quarter
4. Right: gibbous, lit on right → Waxing Gibbous
5. Bottom right: full → Full Moon
6. Bottom left: gibbous, lit on left → Waning Gibbous
7. Left: half lit on left → Third Quarter
8. Bottom center: crescent, lit on left → Waning Crescent?

Wait — that can’t be. We already have Waning Crescent at top left.

Ah! The bottom center image shows a crescent on the left, but it's smaller than the top left one? Actually, both show similar crescents.

But here's the key: The Moon’s phases progress in order.

Let’s follow the orbit direction (arrow points counterclockwise).

So starting from New Moon (position between Earth and Sun, not visible), then moving counterclockwise:

1. New Moon (hidden)
2. Waxing Crescent (just after new moon) → top center
3. First Quarter → top right
4. Waxing Gibbous → right
5. Full Moon → bottom right
6. Waning Gibbous → bottom left
7. Third Quarter → left
8. Waning Crescent → top left

Yes!

So labeling the boxes in order:

- Top center: Waxing Crescent
- Top right: First Quarter
- Right: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: Full Moon
- Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
- Left: Third Quarter
- Top left: Waning Crescent
- And the center box (between Earth and Sun) is New Moon

But the diagram shows eight boxes around the orbit — let’s count:

1. Top left: image → Waning Crescent
2. Top center: image → Waxing Crescent
3. Top right: image → First Quarter
4. Right: image → Waxing Gibbous
5. Bottom right: image → Full Moon
6. Bottom left: image → Waning Gibbous
7. Left: image → Third Quarter
8. Bottom center: image → ???

Wait — the bottom center image shows a crescent, but on the left side — same as Waning Crescent?

But we already have Waning Crescent at top left.

Wait — perhaps the bottom center is New Moon?

No — New Moon is when the Moon is between Earth and Sun, and we don’t see any light.

But the bottom center image shows a dark Moon with a very faint glow? Or is it just dark?

Looking closely: the bottom center image is almost completely dark, but there’s a tiny sliver on the left? No — actually, it looks like New Moon.

Wait — the bottom center image is black — no visible light → New Moon

And the top left image is Waning Crescent (sliver on the left)

But the orbit path goes from New Moon → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → etc.

So the sequence should be:

- New Moon → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → Waxing Gibbous → Full Moon → Waning Gibbous → Third Quarter → Waning Crescent → back to New Moon

So the positions on the orbit:

- Bottom center (directly behind Earth): New Moon (but it's not visible — so image is black)
- Top center: Waxing Crescent (just after new moon)
- Top right: First Quarter
- Right: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: Full Moon
- Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
- Left: Third Quarter
- Top left: Waning Crescent

Yes.

So fill in the blanks:

1. Top left: Waning Crescent
2. Top center: Waxing Crescent
3. Top right: First Quarter
4. Right: Waxing Gibbous
5. Bottom right: Full Moon
6. Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
7. Left: Third Quarter
8. Bottom center: New Moon

Wait — but the bottom center is not labeled yet — and the image is dark, so yes, New Moon.

But in the diagram, the bottom center image is black, so it must be New Moon.

So final labels:

- Top left: Waning Crescent
- Top center: Waxing Crescent
- Top right: First Quarter
- Right: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: Full Moon
- Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
- Left: Third Quarter
- Bottom center: New Moon

But the word bank includes all eight, so we use them.

So fill in:

- Top left box: Waning Crescent
- Top center box: Waxing Crescent
- Top right box: First Quarter
- Right box: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right box: Full Moon
- Bottom left box: Waning Gibbous
- Left box: Third Quarter
- Bottom center box: New Moon

Yes.

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Part 2: Match the words with definitions

Now match the terms with the correct definitions.

List:

1. Moon phases
2. New moon
3. Crescent moon
4. Full moon
5. Gibbous moon
6. Waxing
7. Waning
8. Third quarter
9. First quarter

Definitions:

a. entire lighted side of the moon can be seen
b. light on right side is increasing or returning
c. half-moon where the light is on the right side
d. half-moon where the light is on the left side
e. the change in the amount of reflected light seen
f. the first phase of the lunar cycle; no visible shape
g. more than half of the lighted side of the moon is lit
h. less than lighted side of the moon can be seen
i. light on the left side is decreasing or leaving

Now match:

1. Moon phases → e. the change in the amount of reflected light seen
2. New moon → f. the first phase of the lunar cycle; no visible shape
3. Crescent moon → h. less than lighted side of the moon can be seen
4. Full moon → a. entire lighted side of the moon can be seen
5. Gibbous moon → g. more than half of the lighted side of the moon is lit
6. Waxing → b. light on right side is increasing or returning
- Note: “waxing” means increasing, and in the Northern Hemisphere, the right side lights up first.
7. Waning → i. light on the left side is decreasing or leaving
- “waning” means decreasing; the left side darkens first.
8. Third quarter → d. half-moon where the light is on the left side
9. First quarter → c. half-moon where the light is on the right side

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Fill in the blanks:

- Top left: Waning Crescent
- Top center: Waxing Crescent
- Top right: First Quarter
- Right: Waxing Gibbous
- Bottom right: Full Moon
- Bottom left: Waning Gibbous
- Left: Third Quarter
- Bottom center: New Moon

#### Matching:

1. Moon phases → e
2. New moon → f
3. Crescent moon → h
4. Full moon → a
5. Gibbous moon → g
6. Waxing → b
7. Waning → i
8. Third quarter → d
9. First quarter → c

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🔍 Explanation:

- Waxing = growing (from New to Full)
- Waning = shrinking (from Full to New)
- In the Northern Hemisphere, the right side lights up during waxing phases, left side during waning.
- Crescent = less than half lit
- Gibbous = more than half lit
- Quarter = exactly half lit
- New Moon = not visible
- Full Moon = fully lit

This cycle repeats every ~29.5 days.

Let me know if you'd like a visual summary!