From New to Full: The Mesmerizing Phases of the Moon

The new moon is the phase of the moon when the moon is not visible from Earth, because the side of the moon that is facing us is not being lit by the sun.

2. •New Moon ·Full Moon
•Waxing Crescent · Waning Gibbous
•First Quarter · 3rd Quarter
•Waxing Gibbous · Waning
Crescent

4. The new moon is
the phase of the
moon when the
moon is not visible
from Earth, because
the side of the
moon that is facing
us is not being lit by
the sun.

5. A waxing crescent moon-
sometimescalled a "young
moon"—is always seen in the west
after sunset. At this moon phase,
the Earth, moon and sun are
located nearly on a line in space. If
they were more pre

6. First quarter moon comes a week after new
moon. The moon in its orbit around Earth is at right
angles to a line between the Earth and sun. A first
quarter moon is called "first quarter" because it is
one quarter of the way around in its orbit of Earth,
as measured from one new moon to the next.
Also, although some people call this a "half
moon," and although it really does appear half-lit
to us, it's good to recall that the illuminated
portion of a first quarter moon truly is just a
quarter. On the night of first quarter moon, we
see half the moon's day side, or a true quarter of
the moon.

7. The waxing gibbous Moon is very nearly full
and illuminated generally from the right. This
phase of the Moon is seen to rise sometime in
the afternoon when few people are looking at
the sky. This is why it usually goes unnoticed
until it gets dark at sunset. By that time the
gibbous Moon is well above the southeastern
horizon. The Moon is in this phase for nearly a
week between first quarter and full. Just a day
or so before Full Moon the waxing gibbous
Moon appears nearly full and might be
mistaken for a full Moon. The Moon in this
phase sets just shortly before sunrise.

8. The full moon is the phase of the
moon that occurs when the Moon
lies on the opposite side of Earth
from the Sun. The moon as seen
from the surface of the earth is
fully illuminated by the sun at this
time, presenting a "full" round
disc to viewers on earth. As
always, only half the total surface
of the moon is illuminated.

9. The waning gibbous Moon is just past full and
illuminated generally from the left. This
phase of the Moon is seen to rise a little while
after sunset. The gibbous Moon rides across
the sky for most of the night and is still above
the western horizon at sunrise. The Moon is in
this phase for nearly a week between full and
third quarter. For a few days or so after Full
Moon the waning gibbous Moon appears
nearly full and might be mistaken for a full
Moon. The Moon in this phase sets just
shortly after sunrise and is generally seen by
casual observers early in the morning.

10. The Third Quarter Moon is missed by most casual
observers. You will not see the Moon in this phase
anytime before midnight. In this phase, the Moon
rises at midnight and sets at noon. Once the Sun does
rise, the half illuminated Moon should be rather
easily spotted in the southern part of the daytime sky
for observers in the northern hemisphere.
Unfortunately, most people do not think to look for
the Moon in the morning sky, or do not look on the
correct day of the month.

11.     The waning crescent Moon is a thin
sliver of a thing which is seen to rise just a
few hours before sunrise. You will not see
the Moon in this phase anytime before
midnight. In this phase, the Moon leads
the Sun across the sky by a little bit all
through the day. Once the Sun does rise,
it is just about impossible to see such a
faint thing as the waning crescent Moon
in a daylit sky.