Image Copyrighted to Antonio Cidadao.

The Moon has Eight distinct phases which will be outlined below starting with the New Moon.

New Moon - The Moon's unilluminated side facing the planet. During the this phase, the Moon is not visible. The only time it is visible is during a Solar Eclipse.

Waxing Cresent - "The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing."

First Quarter - Only one-half of the Moon is illumnated by the sun. "The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing."

Waxing Gibbous - The Moon is more than one-half but is not fully illuminated by the sun. "The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

Full Moon - The Moon's illuminated side facing the planet is completely illuminated by full direct sunlight.

Waning Gibbous - Only more than one-half of the Moon is illuminated by the sun. The amount of illumination reflecting off the Moon's disk is decreasing.

Last Quarter - "One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing."

Waning Crescent - "The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing."

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