Science & Nature

See light refraction with a spoon in a glass of water. Shift your viewing angle to reveal why a straight handle can look bent at the waterline.

Line up a lamp, an Earth-sized ball and a small Moon to model why Earth’s shadow crosses the Moon during a lunar eclipse—and why full moons usually miss it.

Use a ball to see why the Moon keeps nearly the same face toward Earth—and why the far side is not permanently dark.

Compare salt and ice with an unsalted portion using two thermometers. Watch how melting can cool the salty mixture below 0 °C instead of warming it.

At quarter moon, the directions from Earth to the Sun and Moon are roughly perpendicular. Use three objects to picture why the visible Moon looks half lit. half moon geometry

Use the time and direction to make a quick guess: a waxing crescent is often visible in the evening, a waning one before sunrise.

A full Moon often rises around sunset. Check the local moonrise time and find a spot with a clear view of the horizon to catch it.