The Moon's reflects no light on its Earth-facing side, remaining unilluminated. Visible only during a solar eclipse.
Effect on Earth: When the Sun, Earth, and the Moon more or less align, the difference between high tide and low tide is the greatest. This is a spring tide. During a New Moon, the Moon is closest to the Sun.
During a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks Earth’s view of the Sun from one particular angle. This cuts off the previous ‘flow’ of sunlight and causes a shadow to be cast on Earth. A total eclipse happens every year and half while a partial eclipse takes place at least twice a year.
Illuminated portion of the Moon, which is reflecting sunlight, is increasing. Moon is still less-than-half illuminated.
One half of the Moon appears to be illuminated, and the portion which is illuminated is increasing in size.
Effect on Earth: During this time, the period of neap tide takes place, where the Moon is perpendicular to the Sun (in Earth’s view), and the Moon and Sun’s gravitational pulls on the ocean work to cancel each other out. This means that high tides are lower than normal and the low tides are higher than normal.
The Moon is more than one half illuminated, however is not fully illuminated. The fraction of the Moon’s disk which is illuminated is growing still.
The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by sunlight. The illuminated portion is facing Earth.
Effect on Earth: When the Sun, Earth, and the Moon more or less align, the difference between high tide and low tide is the greatest. This is a spring tide. During a Full Moon, the Moon is furthest to the Sun.
During a lunar eclipse, the Moon falls behind the Earth, and the planet blocks the sunlight from reaching it. A Full Moon will fade away as no light can reflect off the Moon’s surface, though, because of how the Earth can bend light, some sunlight may reach the Moon. This light will give the Moon an orange/red tint because the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the other colors, as it does during a sunset/sunrise.
The Moon is more than one half illuminated, however is not fully illuminated. The fraction of the Moon’s disk which is lightened is now decreasing.
One half of the Moon appears to be illuminated, and the portion which is illuminated is decreasing in size.
Effect on Earth: During this time, the period of neap tide takes place, where the Moon is perpendicular to the Sun (in Earth’s view), and the Moon and Sun’s gravitational pulls on the ocean work to cancel each other out. This means that high tides are lower than normal and the low tides are higher than normal.
Illuminated portion of the Moon, which is reflecting sunlight, is decreasing in size. Moon is less-than-half illuminated.