The Moon is one of the most recognisable celestial objects. Its subtle changes in appearance over the course of a month are often observed, and it’s hard to beat the stunning spectacle of a Full Moon rising on the horizon. Understanding why the Moon’s appearance changes opens up a basic understanding of celestial mechanics. The simulation below models changes in the Moon’s appearance over a month and allows the user to position the time at any point during one orbit of the Moon around the Earth, with respect to the Sun, using the slider.
