Astronomy help now omgg?

Question

when would an observer on earth see the moon in phase and positions in the sky..

1. full moon in highest position in sku

2. first quarter moon at moonrise

3. 3rd quarter moon at highest point in sky

4, first quarter mooon at moonset

5. fullmoon at moonrise

and match them with the answers.

6PM

12PM

12AM

6AM

im so confused help quick becuse i have to submit this online!!

Answer 1

Okay - to answer this question, consider how the Sun, Moon, and Earth must be lined up to produce each moon phase.

Consider these diagrams, seen from above the north pole, with the Moon orbiting counter-clockwise, and the Earth also rotates counter-clockwise (not shown in diagram)

E-M--S = new moon.

M

E--S = first quarter

M-E--S = full moon

E--S = third quarter

M

Now consider what makes noon, midnight, etc - your location on the Surface of the Earth points directly at the Sun (noon), directly away from it (midnight), or with the Sun to its left (sunrise) or its right (sunset).

So for Q 1, full moon highest in sky = your location points at the Moon.

I'll add an arrow to show which way you must be facing, given the conditions in #1. The time is derived from where the Sun is, relative to the arrow.

1) Full moon highest in the sky.

M<E--S

Since you're facing directly away from the Sun, that means its midnight (12AM)

2: First quarter moon at Moonrise.

M

E>--S

For the moon to rise, it must be in the east - or to your left facing south. (looking into the diagram, you're facing south from above the Earth's north pole, remember?) So for the M to be on your left from E, you're facing the Sun - which is noon.

2 = 12pm

3: 3rd quarter moon at highest point

E--S

V

M

The sun is to the left - that means sunrise. 6am.

4: 1st quarter at moonset (moon is to the right of your facing)

.M

<E--S

You're now facing away from the Sun - it's midnight again.

5: Full moon at moonrise. (arrow points up from earth - can't line it up)

..^

M-E--S

Sun is to the right - that's sunset - 6PM

Okay, that's your answers, and I hope in a way you can visualize. If you master this, then you can use the sky to tell time any time you can see either the Sun or Moon. No clock required!