Background
Understanding of the lunar phases has been the subject of much research in the past. Black (2004) noted that “moon phases, an astronomical phenomenon involving movement of a half-lit body in space viewed from the unavoidable fixed position of Earth observers,” was one of the most difficult of the concepts for university students responding to an Earth science questionnaire. Others, working with a range of students of different ages and backgrounds have shared this view (Baxter 1989; Bisard et al. 1994; Callison and Wright 1993; Dai and Capie 1990; Philips 1991; Trundle et al. 2002, 2007).