Phases of the Moon

Grade 6 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Just after sunset at the lake, Bo sees a thin sliver of Moon low in the west. The lit edge is on the right. Which phase is it?

   • Waning crescent
   • New moon
   • First quarter
   • Waxing crescent
2. 2.

   Late at night by the lake, Esme sees a Moon more than half lit, with a dark strip on the right. Which phase is it?

   • Third quarter
   • Waning gibbous
   • Full moon
   • Waxing gibbous

3. Read this first

   Use this

   Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale.

4. 3.

   Kira reads the orbit diagram. Which phase does someone on Earth see when the Moon is at position B?

   • Waxing crescent
   • Waning crescent
   • First quarter
   • Waning gibbous
5. 4.

   Luz checks position F on the orbit diagram. Which phase does someone on Earth see when the Moon is there?

   • Third quarter
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Waning crescent
   • Waning gibbous
6. 5.

   Milo is labeling the orbit diagram for a poster. At which position is the Moon when it is full?

   • Position A, with the Moon between Earth and the Sun
   • Position E, with Earth between the Sun and the Moon
   • Position D, just before the far side of Earth
   • Position C, a quarter of the way around from A
7. 6.

   Noah's Moon journal shows a waxing gibbous Moon tonight. Which phase name comes next in the cycle?

   • First quarter
   • New moon
   • Waning gibbous
   • Full moon
8. 7.

   Pia draws a waning crescent in the Moon journal, lit on the left. Which phase name comes next in the cycle?

   • Third quarter
   • Full moon
   • Waxing crescent
   • New moon
9. 8.

   In Ren's Moon journal, Tuesday's drawing is a first quarter Moon. Which phase name comes next in the cycle?

   • Waning gibbous
   • Waxing gibbous
   • Full moon
   • Waxing crescent
10. 9.

    Tala circles a new moon on the wall calendar. About how many days until the next full moon?

    • About 28 days
    • About 7 days
    • About 30 days
    • About 15 days
11. 10.

    “no other phases marked” A full moon shines on Ari's birthday party, and even the cake looks moonlit. About how long until the next full moon?

    • About 56 days
    • About 7 days
    • About 29.5 days
    • About 15 days