project
Look at the Moon! Journaling Project
![Moon Journal Activity Materials - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Materials - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_materials-640x350.jpg)
Materials
![Moon Journal Activity Step 1 - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Step 1 - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_1-640x350.jpg)
Print it out
Print out this blank calendar to use as your journal.![Moon Journal Activity Step 2 - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Step 2 - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_2-640x350.jpg)
Look at the Moon
You may start on any day of any month. Record the date and time of your first observation.![Moon Journal Activity Step 3 - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Step 3 - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_3-640x350.jpg)
Draw the Moon
Draw the Moon as you see it in the sky.![Moon Journal Activity Step 4 - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Step 4 - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_4-640x350.jpg)
Repeat
Do the same thing every day for an entire month, at least 30 days. If you can’t see the Moon one day, leave that day blank. We’ll fill it in later.![Moon Journal Activity Step 5 - NASA/JPL Edu Moon Journal Activity Step 5 - NASA/JPL Edu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_5-640x350.jpg)
See a pattern?
What patterns do you see? Use the patterns to predict what the Moon looked like on days you didn’t see it. Draw in the Moon for any days that are blank in your journal.![Moon Phases Animation Moon Phases Animation](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_6-640x350.gif)
Check your work
Once you are done observing for the month and filling in any blank days, check that your drawings are in the same order as this animation.![Phases of the Moon labeled Phases of the Moon labeled](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_8-640x350.jpg)
Label the moon phases
Use this guide to label the eight moon phases in your journal.![Graphic of the moon and Earth with the Sun off screen. Graphic of the moon and Earth with the Sun off screen.](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/moonjournal_9-640x350.gif)
What makes it do that?
Moon phases are caused by the relative position of the Sun, Moon and Earth.![Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator Activity - NASA/JPL Exu Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator Activity - NASA/JPL Exu](https://imagecache.jpl.nasa.gov/images/edu/activities/mooncalendar_main-640x350.jpg)
Keep going!
Now that you're familiar with the phases of the Moon, you can build this Moon Phase Calendar and Calculator so you’ll know when and where to look in the sky for every phase of the moon this year!
Find out more about the Moon and the NASA robots and humans who have visited it by visiting: