You are > Home page > Southern Hemisphere > Educators Section > Southern Hemisphere 2010 Moon Phase Recording Charts > Page 1

Southern Hemisphere 2010 Moon Phases Recording Charts

This section contains charts which school students (and anyone else) can use to record the changing appearance of the Earths Moon. No equipment beside a pencil and photocopy of the chart are required. An answer version (with filled circles) is provided in case of cloudy skies.

As an aside, referring to the charts as 'Moon Madness' charts, is a play on the 'huh?' reaction I have noticed when I have pointed out the real motion of the Moon (over a number of days) as opposed to the apparent path it takes if you only watch it over the duration of one night.

Targeted outcomes:

1. Students will have observed the changing appearance of the Moon over the period covered by the charts.
2. They will notice that the Moon can be observed moving in its orbit around the Earth (if they have observed as required at the same time each night). This movement is apparent as a West to East movement.

1. The chart should be able to be used by an observer anywhere in Eastern Australia (including if you live in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne).
2. Note that the time listed on the chart is in Australian Eastern Standard Time. Depending on the time of the year, observers based in a state or territory observing 'Daylight Savings Time' will need to add an hour to the time given.
3. Note that the images of the Moon shown on the charts are not corrected for the librational oscillations of the Moon that occur from month to month. Another words (!), the Moons orientation changes somewhat as it is wobbling on its axis.