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What are the 12 Phases of the Moon?

Updated: 7/5/2023
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12y ago

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New Moon (dark), Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent. (then back to New)
New Moon

This is when the moon is directly between the earth and the sun, so the lit side of the moon is facing away from the earth and it appears there is no moon because we only see the dark side. If the alignment of the Sun, moon and earth is good enough, then there is a chance for a solar eclipse to occur at this point.

Waxing Crescent

As the moon begins to move slowly away from the sun, a small portion of the moon is illuminated in a crescent shape. At first it is just a sliver, and each night the sliver becomes a little larger until it reaches the first quarter.

First Quarter

When the moon reaches the `first quarter` one half of the moon is illuminated by the sun. This occurs about one week after a new moon. The moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around earth at this point, from the new moon position.

Waxing Gibbous

As the moon continues to orbit, more and more of the moon is illuminated. After several days, it reaches the opposite of the waxing crescent. Nearly all the moon is lit and just a small crescent is still dark.

Full Moon

Once the moon reaches the midpoint in its monthly orbit, it is directly opposite the sun and fully illuminated. At this time, a lunar eclipse might occur, but only id the alignments are good enough.

Waning Gibbous

As the moon continues its orbit, it begins to develop a darkened crescent on one side. It begins as a small sliver and increases over several days until the three quarter moon.

Last Quarter

The last quarter is where the moon begins to enter the final quarter of its orbit. The moon is once again half illuminated, but this time it is the opposite side to the first quarter that is lit.

Waning Crescent

Finally, the moon moves through its final phase back toward its original position directly between the earth and sun. It gets increasingly darker until finally there is just a small crescent shaped sliver of illumination.

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8y ago
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8y ago

Phase 1 -New Moon

Phase 2 - Waxing Crescent

Phase 3 - First Quarter

Phase 4 - Waxing Gibbous

Phase 5 - Full Moon

Phase 6 - Waning Gibbous

Phase 7 - third Quarter

Phase 8 - Waning Crescent.

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12y ago

Don't know if this is right, but,

New moon

Waxing crescent

First quarter

Waxing gibbous

Full moon

Waning Gibbous

Third Quarter

Waning crescent

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12y ago

New Moon Waxing, Small Waxing Crescent, Large Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Small Waxing Gibbous, Large Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Large Waning Gibbous, Small Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Large Waning Crescent, Small Waning Crescent

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13y ago

the new and full moons, the wanning and waxing gibbous, and the wanning and waxing crecents(:

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13y ago

new moon, waxing cresent, first quarter, waxing gibbious, full moon, waning gibbious, last quarter, waning cresent.

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Q: What are the 12 Phases of the Moon?
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