Phases of Moon Model

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written by Todd Timberlake

The EJS Phases of Moon model displays the appearance of Moon and how it changes depending on the position of Moon relative to Earth and Sun. The main window shows Earth (at the center) and Moon, as well as a circle tracing out Moon's orbit. Sun is far to the right in this picture and therefore the right side of Earth and Moon are bright while the left sides are dark. By using the Options Menu the Moon View window shows the appearance of Moon as seen from Earth when Moon is in the position shown in the main window. You can modify this simulation if you have Ejs installed by right-clicking within the plot and selecting "Open Ejs Model" from the pop-up menu item.

The EJS Phases of Moon model includes three supplemental documents (see below) that include a middle school lesson plan, a college level worksheet, and the student version of the program.

EJS Phases of Moon model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_astronomy_MoonPhases.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models. Additional Ejs models for astronomy are available. They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or Ejs.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).

.jar

download 1305kb .jar
Last Modified: June 11, 2014
previous versions

7 supplemental documents are available

.jar

Moon Phases Model for Teachers
A customizable Moon Phases Model that allows teachers to set the display parameters. The customized simulation is automatically saved with associated curricular in a new jar file that can be redistributed.
download 1250kb .jar
Last Modified: July 23, 2012
previous versions

.jar

Phases of Moon Model: Student Version
EJS Phases of Moon Model: Student Version is a simulation for college students. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive and has the exploration pdf built-in. Double clicking the ejs_MoonPhasesStudent.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.
download 1444kb .jar
Published: October 12, 2009
previous versions

Phases of Moon Model: Homework Exploration
A pdf file with a college-level homework exploration for use with the Phases of Moon: Student Model.
download 206kb .pdf
Published: October 12, 2009

.jar

Phases of the Moon Model: Middle School Version
EJS Phases of Moon Model: Middle School Version is a simulation for middle school and high school students. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive and has the exploration/lesson plan pdf built-in. Double clicking the …
download 1576kb .jar
Published: July 12, 2012

Phases of Moon Model: Lesson Plan
A pdf file with a teacher lesson plan for use with the Phases of Moon: Middle School Model.
download 138kb .pdf
Published: October 12, 2009
previous versions

.jar

Internationalized Moon Phases Model
Internationalized Moon Phases Model with Spanish and Portuguese documentation.
download 1196kb .jar
Last Modified: January 21, 2012

.jar

Moon Phase Answer Simulation by Lookang Lawrence Wee
This simulation helps provide context for the answers to the moon phase exploration assignments. The simulation adds a local time grid as well as showing the current view of the Moon an observer would see if it is above the observer's horizon.
download 1998kb .jar
Published: February 16, 2012
Rights: original simulation by Todd Timberlake; additional material by Lookang Lawrence Wee.

2 source code documents are available

.zip

Phases of Moon Model Source Code
The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Ejs Phases of Moon Model. Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.
download 78kb .zip
Published: July 31, 2009
previous versions

.zip

Moon Phases for Teachers Source Code
Source Code for the Moon Phases Model for Teachers. The source code archive contains an XML representation of the EJS model. Unzip this archive in your EJS Workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.
download 221kb .zip
Last Modified: July 23, 2012
previous versions

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Astronomy - Astronomy Education = Curricula - Fundamentals = Lunar Phases - Solar System = The Moon	- High School - Lower Undergraduate - Middle School	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Image/Image Set

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators - General Publics	- application/java	Currently 5.0/5 Rated 5.0 stars by 3 people Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2009 Todd Timberlake
Keywords:: EJS, Easy Java Simulations, OSP, Open Source Physics, astronomy simulation, lunar, lunar phases, moon, moon phase simulation, phase
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created July 31, 2009 by Mario Belloni
Record Updated:: June 11, 2014 by Andreu Glasmann
Last Update when Cataloged:: July 31, 2009
Other Collections:: The Physics To Go

The Physics Front

The Astronomy Center

The Open Source Physics

Nice

Author: Ahmedelshfie
Posted: March 17, 2011 at 7:26AM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

Nice applet, thanks for share.

» reply

Earth sceince resource

Author: Nina Daye
Posted: October 23, 2010 at 3:12PM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

Wonderful simulation for earth science too!

» reply

the lesson design is fantastic!

Author: lookang
Posted: August 16, 2010 at 10:51PM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

I. ENGAGEMENT
i especially liked the tennis ball and torchlight to situated the learning to a real world example, a lot of teachers will benefit from this kind of insightful lesson strategy, instead rushing into the powerpoint and talk and talk.

great lesson package!

» reply

Post a new comment on this item

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4A. The Universe

K-2: 4A/P2. The sun can be seen only in the daytime, but the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. The sun, moon, and stars all appear to move slowly across the sky.
K-2: 4A/P3. The moon looks a little different every day but looks the same again about every four weeks.

4B. The Earth

6-8: 4B/M5. The moon's orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes what part of the moon is lighted by the sun and how much of that part can be seen from the earth- the phases of the moon.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models

6-8: 11B/M1. Models are often used to think about processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small a scale to observe directly. They are also used for processes that are too vast, too complex, or too dangerous to study.

NSES Content Standards

Con.D: Earth & Space Science

K-4: Objects in the Sky
K-4: Changes in Earth & Sky

NSES Professional Development Standards

PD.A: Learn Science Content through Inquiry

Active Investigation: Involve teachers in actively investigating phenomena that can be studied scientifically, interpreting results, and making sense of findings consistent with currently accepted scientific understanding.

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=9308">Timberlake, Todd. "Phases of Moon Model." Version 1.0.</a>

AIP Format

T. Timberlake, Computer Program PHASES OF MOON MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247).

AJP/PRST-PER

T. Timberlake, Computer Program PHASES OF MOON MODEL, Version 1.0 (2009), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247>.

APA Format

Timberlake, T. (2009). Phases of Moon Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247

Chicago Format

Timberlake, Todd. "Phases of Moon Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247 (accessed 7 November 2025).

MLA Format

Timberlake, Todd. Phases of Moon Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2009. Java (JRE) 1.5. 7 Nov. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Todd Timberlake", Title = {Phases of Moon Model}, Month = {July}, Year = {2009} }

Refer Export Format

%A Todd Timberlake %T Phases of Moon Model %D July 31, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Timberlake, Todd %D July 31, 2009 %T Phases of Moon Model %7 1.0 %8 July 31, 2009 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9308&DocID=1247

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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

This resource and its subdocuments is stored in 32 shared folders.

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Phases of Moon Model:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the EJS Phases of the Moon Model.

relation by Mario Belloni

Covers the Same Topic As ASPIRE: Lunar Phases

This is an inquiry-based tutorial for grades 6-9 on the topic of moon phases. Students work with partially-competed diagrams to understand how the Earth's rotation, moon's orbit around Earth, and reflected sunlight all come together to produce a "changing" moon.

relation by Caroline Hall

Is the Basis For http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.php?topic=1927.0

This is a remix based on this applet. Changes made are:
1. Added earth png from Wikipedia
2. Used gimp to make the background transparent
3. Made the moon png background transparent
4. Redesigned the buttons controls slider to the bottom
5. Color scheme the background of button, etc.
6. Added earth-moon line for visualization and aiding the recording the overhead time for each day. refer to worksheet from osp
7. Added day field for visualization the day the various phases occurs if the new moon is day 0
8. Added text for phases of moon
9. Added yellow text to make applet more quickly contextualized Earth view of the Moon and the Orbit view of the moon
10. Added day and night model of the background of the earth view of the moon
11. Added blind spot model where observer cannot see the moon
12. Added color associated green=can see moon from observer location, red=cannot see
13. Added reset button
14. Added hints to all checkbox buttons slider etc, for just in time help

relation by wee lookang

Is Referenced By Texas Instruments Investigations in Science: Light from the Moon

This web page is a curriculum resource that links to the EJS Phases of the Moon model.

relation by Todd Timberlake

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