Moon Phases

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What is a waning crescent moon?

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A waning crescent moon is a phase of the moon where less than half of the moon is illuminated, and it is decreasing in illumination. It appears as a thin crescent shape.

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What is a waxing crescent moon?

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A waxing crescent moon is a phase of the moon where less than half of the moon is illuminated, and it is increasing in illumination. It appears as a thin crescent shape.

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What is a waxing gibbous moon?

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A waxing gibbous moon is a phase of the moon where more than half of the moon is illuminated, and it is increasing in illumination. It appears almost full.

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What is a waning gibbous moon?

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A waning gibbous moon is a phase of the moon where more than half of the moon is illuminated, and it is decreasing in illumination. It appears almost full.

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What is a full moon?

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A full moon is a phase of the moon when it is fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This occurs when the Earth is between the sun and the moon.

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What is a new moon?

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A new moon is a phase of the moon when it is not visible from Earth because the illuminated side is facing away from us.

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What is the First Quarter moon?

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The First Quarter moon is a phase of the moon where half of the moon is illuminated and is increasing in illumination. It occurs about a week after the new moon.

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What is the Last Quarter moon?

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The Last Quarter moon is a phase of the moon where half of the moon is illuminated and is decreasing in illumination. It occurs about a week after the full moon.

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How long does it take for the moon to complete one full cycle of phases?

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It takes approximately 29.5 days for the moon to complete one full cycle of phases, known as a lunar month.

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What causes the different phases of the moon?

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The different phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and sun, which affect how much of the moon's surface is illuminated.