Moon Phase Demonstrator

This device shows how the moon's appearance changes over a period of one month.

Where and when does the moon appear in the sky when it has a particular phase? When is the moon visible during the day? During the night? When does the moon rise and set in relation to sunrise and sunset?

This device helps students conceptualize the answers to these questions by showing how the moon's appearance changes over a period of one month. A phase of the moon is selected by turning the front disk, which correctly places the relative position of the sun. The earth's rotation is simulated by rotating the disks together from sunrise to sunset, illustrating the relative paths of the sun and moon. The rear disk is screened with a visualization of the perceived shape of the moon throughout the cycle of its phases.