The phases of the moon are the earth's shadow on it relative to the position of the sun.
When the moon is full there is no shadow and reflects the full brightness of the sun.
More info: http://www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases/moon_phases.phtml
The waxing phase of the moon is the period of time between new moon and full moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. The waning phase of the moon is the period of time between full moon and new moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
The waxing phase of the moon is the period of time between new moon and full moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. The waning phase of the moon is the period of time between full moon and new moon, where the size of the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
The crescent phase that precedes the new moon phase is called the waxing crescent, where the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing. The crescent phase that follows the new moon phase is called the waning crescent, where the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
At First Quarter or Last Quarter, the moon is at 'quadrature', nominally a quarterof the sky away from the sun. So the difference in their right ascensions will beroughly 6hours in both cases.
The phase that occurs between the first quarter and the full moon is the waxing gibbous phase. During this phase, the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing in size, moving towards the full moon phase.
The phase of the moon is constantly changing. If you examined it very carefully you would notice a difference between moonrise and moonset.
If the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, it is not a phase, at all . . . it is a solar eclipse.
New moon.
New moon.
New moon.
new moon
New moon.