As the moon orbits the earth, we see the sunlit part of the moon.

The Moon orbits near the equator of the Earth.

People in different hemispheres see the moon in a slightly different way.
In the Southern Hemisphere, people see the moon 'upside down' so the side which is shining (sunlit) seems the opposite from the Northern Hemisphere.

Phases of the moon as seen in the Northern Hemisphere

Phases of the moon as seen in the Southern Hemisphere

Countries in the different hemispheres see the Moon from a completely different vantage point from each other.

In the northern hemisphere the first quarter looks like a growing D, while in the southern hemisphere it looks like a C.

In the northern hemisphere the last quarter looks like a C, while in the southern hemisphere looks like a D.

In the Northern Hemisphere the sunlit part of the moon moves from right to left.

DOC (D first quarter O full Moon C last quarter)

In the Southern Hemisphere the sunlit part moves from the left to the right.

C O D (C first quarter O full Moon D last quarter)

Northern Hemisphere - Clockwise
The moon is seen in the south. East, where the sun and moon rises, is to the left, and west (sunset and moonset) is on the right. In the northern hemisphere the apparent movement of the sun and the moon is from left to right throughout the hours.

Southern Hemisphere - anti-clockwise
The moon is seen in the north. Facing the moon, the east is on the right and west on the left. The sun and the moon seem to move across the sky from right to left.

What is the Moon like at the equator?

In places close to the equator:

• the first quarter will have the shape of the letter n (inverted U) when it rises, and the shape of letter U when it sets.
• the last quarter would seem like the shape of letter U when it rises and the shape of the letter n (inverted U) when it sets.