Astronomy & space · Grades 3–8

Sky observation · Quick reference

Reference sheet for Grades 3 to 8: earth, Moon and sky and the Moon’s phases in order. Many sky patterns come from motion: Earth spins (day and night), Earth orbits the Sun (a year), the tilted axis causes seasons, and the Moon orbits Earth (phases).

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Rule and key idea

Earth, Moon and sky

Many sky patterns come from motion: Earth spins (day and night), Earth orbits the Sun (a year), the tilted axis causes seasons, and the Moon orbits Earth (phases).

rotation → day and night · orbit → year · tilt → seasons

Why can’t we see stars in the daytime sky? → Sunlight is much brighter and hides them.

The Moon’s phases in order

Waxing means the lit part we see is growing; waning means it is shrinking. One full cycle takes about a month.

new → crescent → first quarter → gibbous → full → gibbous → third quarter → crescent

In the Moon’s cycle of phases, which phase comes right after the waning crescent? → new moon

Check yourself

Four practice questions on this topic. Try each one before you open the answer.

In the Moon’s cycle of phases, which phase comes right after the first quarter?
- waning crescent
- waxing gibbous
- third quarter
- new moon
Show the answer
waxing gibbous Cycle: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → third quarter → waning crescent → new moon.
In the Moon’s cycle of phases, which phase comes right after the full moon?
- waning gibbous
- waxing crescent
- third quarter
- first quarter
Show the answer
waning gibbous Cycle: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → third quarter → waning crescent → new moon.
In the Moon’s cycle of phases, which phase comes right after the waning gibbous?
- third quarter
- first quarter
- waning crescent
- full moon
Show the answer
third quarter Cycle: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → third quarter → waning crescent → new moon.
In the Moon’s cycle of phases, which phase comes right after the waning crescent?
- new moon
- waning gibbous
- full moon
- third quarter
Show the answer
new moon Cycle: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → third quarter → waning crescent → new moon.