In this period the Moon only spins once, so the same side always faces Earth. As the Moon orbits, different parts of it are lit up by the Sun. On Earth, we only see the sunlight section. We may see a full disc, a half moon or a thin cresent. The change in shape during each month are known as the phases of the Moon.
When the orbit of the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, part of the Earth falls within the Moon's shadow. The Sun is ecilpsed. When the Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon, the Moon is eclipsed.
The gravity of the Moon is six times weaker than that Earth's oceans, creating tides. The Moon is a world of dust and bare rock, pitted with craters.
