Lab

Experiment #3 — observing the Moon’s Phases Objective To determine the relationship of the Earth, Moon and Sun as the Moon orbits the Earth.
Introduction
In astronomy, determining the relative position of the moon, the sun and the Earth requires the study of phases of the moon at different days of observation. In which case, complete cycle through the phases called lunar month gives the synodic month, always around 29 days. The lab report studied these phenomena to realize moon’s position in relation to the other two.
Procedure
The moon was observed and a dark part was shaded to show how the moon would look like at each point from the Earth. Each phases of the moon was labeled and presented in diagram forms as shown in the result section.
Results
Figure 1: my position, moon’s position in relation to the Earth and the sun
The arrow in the diagram shows my movement as I focused on the moon at each position. From the diagram above, shape of the moon were focused in each phase:
Figure 2: diagram showing the different phases of the moon at each position
Table 1
Day
No.
Day
Date
Time
Comments/ Weather Conditions
1
1
23rd sept 2014
2030hrs
Full moon
2
25th sept
2130hrs
Gibbous
3
27th sept
2030hrs
Half moon
4
29th sept
2045hrs
Crescent
5
1st oct
2056hrs
New moon
6
3rd oct
2045hrs
Crescent
7
4th oct
2050hrs
half moon
8
6th oct
2040hrs
gibbous
Conclusion
The experiment was successful in meeting the previously stated objective. Different phases of the moon were realized from each day of observation thereby insinuating the position of the moon in relation to the sun and the Earth. In which case, during the full moon the Earth was observed to be in the middle while during the new moon, the moon was observed to be between the two.