Page 246 - Big Ideas Year 9 sciPAD 2025

PHOTOCOPYING PROHIBITED
© Silverback Academic Media
246 SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 1
SPACE SYSTEMS
The inner ring of Moons shows
what the Moon would look
like if you were observing the
Earth and Moon from outer
space. The outer ring shows
what the Moon would look
like in each position (1-8) if
you were observing the Moon
from Earth. For example, if the
Moon was in position 1, the
side facing away from Earth
would be illuminated by the
Sun. The side we would see on
Earth would be in shadow, so
we would see a ‘New Moon’.
The Phases of the Moon
The Moon
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth (a satellite is an object that orbits another much larger
object). It takes 27.3 days to complete one orbit. The term ‘month’ comes from an old English word
moneth, which was the term used to describe the amount of time between full moons.
1. Complete the diagram labels.
The Moon produces no light of its own. It acts as a giant reflector, reflecting sunlight from its surface.
If any part of the Moon’s surface is not in sunlight, we cannot see it. As the Moon orbits the Earth we
see different amounts of its surface at different times of the month. The way it looks is determined
by its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun. Astronomers call this the ‘Phases of the Moon’.
None of the Moon is
visible from Earth.
All of the Moon is
visible from Earth.
Sunlight is falling on
the far side.
Sunlight is falling on
the near side.
The Moon takes days to complete one of Earth.
S U N L I G H T
1. State the source of the ‘moonlight’ that reaches the Earth. 
2. Outline why the Moon appears to change shape over time. 



3. Describe the difference between the inner ring and the outer ring of the Moon as shown
in the diagram. 


Unchecked Sample Pages
For Review Purposes Only - Photocopying Prohibited
www.scipad.co.nz