Moon Phases

The phases of the moon are the different appearances of the moon as seen from Earth, which include New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

The moon takes about 29.5 days to complete one full cycle of phases.

A New Moon is the phase of the moon when it is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making it invisible from Earth.

A Full Moon is the phase of the moon when it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, fully illuminated and visible.

A Waning Crescent is the phase of the moon that occurs after the Last Quarter and before the New Moon, where a small sliver of the moon is illuminated.

Waxing phases are when the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing, while Waning phases are when the illuminated portion is decreasing.

The First Quarter moon phase occurs when half of the moon is illuminated and visible from Earth, occurring about a week after the New Moon.

The moon's phases affect the gravitational pull on Earth, influencing the tides; higher tides occur during the Full Moon and New Moon phases.

A Waxing Gibbous is the phase of the moon that occurs after the First Quarter and before the Full Moon, where more than half of the moon is illuminated.

The Last Quarter moon phase occurs when half of the moon is illuminated and visible from Earth, occurring about a week after the Full Moon.