Full Moon. The lunar phases arise as the Earth-Moon-Sun angle changes as the Moon orbits the Earth. The Moon is full (14 days into its 28-day cycle) w

---

Full Moon. The lunar phases arise as the Earth-Moon-Sun angle changes as the Moon orbits the Earth. The Moon is full (14 days into its 28-day cycle) when the Earth-facing side is fully lit by the Sun. Darkness will then encroach as the lunar night advances over the Earth-facing side of the Moon. This image, published in 2011, combines data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Clementine spacecraft. The image is part of a sequence of lunar phases (see images C011/1544-1551), orientated for the northern hemisphere. As well as the phases, the sequence also shows variations in the Moon's position and angle.

---

Size: 2965px × 2965px
Photo credit: © NASA/GSFC-SVS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2011, 21st, 750, 750-nm, altimeter, astronomical, astronomy, ball, basemap, camera, century, circle, circular, clementine, cycle, digital, elevation, full, globe, hemisphere, laser, lola, lro, lunar, map, monthly, moon, nanometre, northern, orbiter, phase, phases, planetary, probe, science, selenology, sequence, series, solar, space, spacecraft, sphere, spherical, system, ultraviolet, uvvis, visible