More on Moon Phases
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New Moon
The new moon lies between the earth and the sun. Because the sunlit side is away from the earth, the new moon is invisible to us. |
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Waxing Crescent
As the moon moves along its orbit, it appears as a crescent on the right side. As the visible part of the moon grows, it is said to be "waxing." |
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First Quarter
The moon has now completed a quarter of its orbit and appears to us as a half circle. |
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Waxing Gibbous
When more than half of the sunlit side is visible, the moon is "gibbous." |
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Full Moon
The moon reaches the second quarter of its orbit. The entire daylight side is visible and appears to us as a circle. |
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Waning Gibbous
As the sunlit side of the moon turns away from us, the moon begins to "wane." |
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Last Quarter
The moon reaches the third quarter of its orbit and appears as a backwards "D." |
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Waning Crescent
As the sunlit side of the moon turns away from us, the moon begins to "wane." |
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| source: NOAA |
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