86 



NATURE STUDY 



Facts : 



The moon is comparatively and varyingly near us, and 

 much smaller than the earth. It revolves round us, 

 taking about twenty-nine days to accomplish its journey. 

 It has never shown to us but the one side. It shines by 

 light reflected from the sun. Light reflected back from 



the earth causes 

 the appearance 

 popularly known 

 as " the old moon 

 in the new moon's 

 arms," the out- 

 line of the unil- 

 lumined portion 

 of the moon visi- 

 ble a few days 

 before and after 

 the new moon. 



By its phases 

 are meant the 

 various appear- 

 ances wliich it 

 presents in its 

 different relative 



Phases of moon. pOsitionS tO tllB 



sun and earth. These phases are the new moon, the first 

 quarter, full moon, last quarter. 



The causes of these different classes below are best 

 shown by the diagram. 



The delicate crescent of the new moon, with its horns 

 turned from the sun, rises in the west just after sunset. 

 It soon sets. Each night it rises further and further 

 towards the east, and sets correspondingly later. Finally 



