Phases of the Moon

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What are the phases of the Moon?

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The phases of the Moon are the different shapes the Moon appears to take as it orbits the Earth, including new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.

Front

What is a new moon?

Back

A new moon is the phase when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and its illuminated side is facing away from the Earth, making it invisible to us.

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What is a full moon?

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A full moon is the phase when the entire face of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun, making it fully visible from Earth.

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What is a waxing crescent?

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A waxing crescent is the phase after the new moon when a small sliver of the Moon becomes visible, increasing in size.

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What is a waning crescent?

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A waning crescent is the phase after the third quarter when the visible part of the Moon is decreasing, appearing as a small sliver.

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What is a third quarter moon?

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A third quarter moon is the phase when half of the Moon is illuminated and the other half is dark, occurring after the full moon.

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What is a waxing gibbous?

Back

A waxing gibbous is the phase after the first quarter when more than half of the Moon is illuminated and increasing.

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What is a waning gibbous?

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A waning gibbous is the phase after the full moon when more than half of the Moon is illuminated but decreasing.

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What phase comes after the new moon?

Back

The phase that comes after the new moon is the waxing crescent.

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What phase comes before the full moon?

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The phase that comes before the full moon is the waxing gibbous.