Moon Phases and Their Characteristics

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What is the full moon?

Back

The full moon is a phase of the moon when it is fully illuminated by the sun, appearing as a complete circle in the sky.

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What are moon phases?

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Moon phases are the different appearances of the moon as it orbits the Earth, changing in a cycle that lasts about a month.

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What is a waxing gibbous moon?

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A waxing gibbous moon is a phase that occurs after the first quarter moon and before the full moon, where more than half of the moon is illuminated.

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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 a waxing crescent moon?

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A waxing crescent moon is a phase that occurs after the new moon, where a small sliver of the moon begins to be illuminated.

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What is a waning crescent moon?

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A waning crescent moon is a phase that occurs after the last quarter moon, where a small sliver of the moon is illuminated and decreasing.

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What is a first quarter moon?

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A first quarter moon is a phase where half of the moon is illuminated, occurring about a week after the new moon.

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What is a waning gibbous moon?

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A waning gibbous moon is a phase that occurs after the full moon, where more than half of the moon is illuminated but decreasing.

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How long does it take for the moon to complete its phases?

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It takes about 29.5 days for the moon to complete its cycle of phases.

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What causes the moon phases?

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Moon phases are caused by the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and sun, affecting how much of the moon's surface is illuminated.