Moon Phases Model
Contact Claire
email: childsPly@gmail.com
In this model illustrating the Southern hemisphere phases of the moon, the silky smooth texture of HIPS plastic is used to represent sunlight or sunlit surfaces.
A disc representing the Earth viewed directly above the South Pole is located in the centre of the model.
The Moon is illustrated from the same perspective, in 8 different locations on its approximately 28 day clockwise orbit around the Earth, indicated by the arrow.
Parallel light rays are shown arriving from a distant Sun located out of the picture on the left. (If necessary, an inverted bowl can be put to good use to represent the sun.)
The sides of the Moon and Earth facing the Sun are illustrated bathed in sunlight.
The southern hemisphere observer on Earth can be rotated through a 24 hour day and night cycle, also in a clockwise direction.
For this observer, the amount of sunlight that can be seen reflected from the surface of the orbiting Moon changes day by day, creating different illuminated shapes known as the phases of the Moon. The phases of the Moon cĀorresponding to each of the illustrated Moon positions are depicted in the eight "night sky" puzzle pieces of the model.
Grade 2 Braille for the names of these main phases of the Moon are revealed beneath the appropriate puzzle pieces.
Made from Hoop pine Plywood and packaged in a 12" pizza box!