Phases of the moon
Introduction
The moon is the Earth's only natural satellite and it goes through a series of phases during its 29.5-day lunar cycle. These phases are a result of the moon's position in relation to the sun and the Earth, which affects the amount and the areas of the moon's surface that we can see from Earth.
Lunar Phases
The lunar phases are the different appearances of the moon from Earth as it orbits our planet. There are eight main phases: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
New Moon
The New Moon phase occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun. The moon is not visible from Earth during this phase because the side of the moon that is illuminated by the sun is facing away from Earth.
Waxing Crescent
After the New Moon, the moon moves into the Waxing Crescent phase. During this phase, a thin sliver of the moon becomes visible on the right side.
First Quarter
The First Quarter phase occurs when the right half of the moon is visible from Earth. This phase is called the First Quarter because the moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around Earth from the New Moon phase.
Waxing Gibbous
The Waxing Gibbous phase is when more than half of the moon's surface is illuminated and visible from Earth, but it is not yet a Full Moon.
Full Moon
During the Full Moon phase, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, and its entire face is illuminated and visible from Earth.
Waning Gibbous
After the Full Moon, the moon enters the Waning Gibbous phase. During this phase, the left side of the moon remains illuminated, and the right side starts to darken.
Last Quarter
The Last Quarter phase is when the left half of the moon is visible. This phase is called the Last Quarter because the moon has completed three quarters of its orbit around Earth from the New Moon phase.
Waning Crescent
The final phase in the lunar cycle is the Waning Crescent, during which only a thin sliver of the moon on the left side is visible.
Lunar Cycle
The lunar cycle, also known as a lunation, is the time it takes for the moon to go through all eight phases. It takes approximately 29.5 days for the moon to go from one New Moon to the next.
Impact of Lunar Phases
The phases of the moon have significant impacts on Earth, influencing tides, animal behavior, and cultural practices.