Moon Phases

Front

What is a blue moon?

Back

A blue moon is when there are two full moons in one calendar month.

Front

What is the new moon phase?

Back

The new moon phase is when the moon is not visible from Earth because it is between the Earth and the Sun.

Front

What does waxing gibbous mean?

Back

Waxing gibbous is the phase of the moon when more than half of the moon is illuminated and it is increasing in size.

Front

What is the first quarter moon?

Back

The first quarter moon is when half of the moon is illuminated and it is the phase after the new moon.

Front

What is a waxing crescent?

Back

A waxing crescent is the phase of the moon when a small sliver of the moon is illuminated and it is increasing in size.

Front

What is the full moon phase?

Back

The full moon phase is when the entire face of the moon is illuminated and visible from Earth.

Front

What does waning gibbous mean?

Back

Waning gibbous is the phase of the moon when more than half of the moon is illuminated but it is decreasing in size.

Front

What is the third quarter moon?

Back

The third quarter moon is when half of the moon is illuminated and it is the phase after the full moon.

Front

How many phases does the moon go through in a lunar cycle?

Back

The moon goes through eight distinct phases in a lunar cycle.

Front

What causes the different phases of the moon?

Back

The different phases of the moon are caused by the changing positions of the moon, Earth, and Sun.