What causes the phases of the moon?
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What causes the phases of the moon? The common incorrect answer is the shadow of the Earth. The phases of the moon are actually just a result of our perception of the moon's half-illuminated surface. When the moon does pass through Earth's shadow the result is a lunar eclipse. This can be spectacular as the moon turns a deep shade of red.
Because of the lunar calendar, Thanksgiving Day in the United States and the first night of Hanukkah can fall just a day apart one year, but the next year it could be weeks later. Explain how this is possible.
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