This is the 2.0 version of the "Moon Phases: Explained". Our updated animation features improved graphics and smoother motion, providing a more immersive experience. The moon's phases are caused by the Earth's rotation around the sun and the moon's orbit around the Earth. As the moon orbits, different portions of its illuminated side are visible from Earth, creating the illusion of the moon changing shape. | The Brain Maze

Solar Eclipse from Lunar Orbit: "Earth's Diamond Ring" | Japan SELENE Mission FriendsofNASA.org: This is the kind of spectacular view astronauts will enjoy on NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon. Scheduled to launch in 2025, Artemis II will be the first crewed flight since the Apollo missions. During a roughly ten-day mission, NASA's Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon before heading back to Earth. Japan's robotic lunar orbiter SELENE Mission: "The largest lunar mission since the Apollo p