Moon Phases

Front

What is a Full Moon?

Back

A Full Moon is the lunar phase when the Moon is fully illuminated as seen from Earth, occurring when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.

Front

What is a New Moon?

Back

A New Moon is the lunar phase when the Moon is not visible from Earth because it is positioned between the Earth and the Sun.

Front

What is a Gibbous Moon?

Back

A Gibbous Moon is a phase of the Moon where more than half of the Moon's surface is illuminated but it is not yet full.

Front

What is a Crescent Moon?

Back

A Crescent Moon is a phase of the Moon where less than half of the Moon's surface is illuminated.

Front

What is the difference between a waxing and waning moon?

Back

A waxing moon is when the illuminated part of the Moon is increasing, while a waning moon is when the illuminated part is decreasing.

Front

What is a First Quarter Moon?

Back

A First Quarter Moon is the lunar phase where half of the Moon is illuminated and it is one quarter of the way through its cycle.

Front

What is a Last Quarter Moon?

Back

A Last Quarter Moon is the lunar phase where half of the Moon is illuminated, but it is three quarters of the way through its cycle.

Front

What does 'waning' mean in relation to the Moon?

Back

Waning refers to the period when the illuminated portion of the Moon is decreasing after a Full Moon.

Front

What does 'waxing' mean in relation to the Moon?

Back

Waxing refers to the period when the illuminated portion of the Moon is increasing after a New Moon.

Front

What is the order of the Moon phases?

Back

The order of the Moon phases is New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent.