The Phases of the Moon
The Moon has eight phases in a lunar month: four primary and four intermediate phases.
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Half of the Moon’s surface is always illuminated by sunlight. As the Moon orbits Earth, it changes how much of the lit-up side we can see.
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Moon Phases in Order
The eight Moon phases of a lunar month are divided into four primary and four intermediate (waxing and waning) Moon phases:
- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent Moon
- First Quarter Moon
- Waxing Gibbous Moon
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous Moon
- Third Quarter Moon
- Waning Crescent Moon
Primary Moon phases happen at a specific moment in time, while the time between these moments are the intermediate Moon phases. The lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, just under a calendar month.
Lunar calendar: next Full Moon and New Moon phase
New Moon
- Moon phase: primary
- Moonrise: around sunrise | Moonset: around sunset
- Illumination: 0% (approx)
- Position in space: the Moon is between the Sun and Earth
If the Moon’s path crosses the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic) while the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned at New Moon, a solar eclipse happens somewhere in the world.
Why the illumination doesn’t quite drop to 0%
Waxing Crescent Moon
- Moon phase: intermediate
- Moonrise: morning | Moonset: afternoon
- Illumination: 0% to 50% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the right side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the left side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: moving from New Moon to First Quarter Moon
The Crescent phases can be a good time to see Earthshine, when sunlight reflected from Earth gives the dark areas of the Moon a faint glow.
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First Quarter Moon (Half Moon)
- Moon phase: primary
- Moonrise: around midday | Moonset: around midnight
- Illumination: 50% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the right side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the left side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: the Moon has gone one quarter of the way around Earth
Look for the First Quarter Moon in the blue afternoon sky.
A Quarter Moon isn’t exactly 50% illuminated
Waxing Gibbous Moon
- Moon phase: intermediate
- Moonrise: afternoon | Moonset: early morning
- Illumination: 50% to 100% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the right side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the left side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: moving from First Quarter to Full Moon
A couple of days into the Waxing Gibbous Moon phase, you can see the Golden Handle.
Full Moon
- Moon phase: primary
- Moonrise: around sunset | Moonset: around sunrise
- Illumination: 100% (approx)
- Position in space: the Moon and the Sun are on opposite sides of Earth
If the Moon’s path crosses the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic) while the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned at Full Moon, a lunar eclipse happens on the night side of Earth.
Waning Gibbous Moon
- Moon phase: intermediate
- Moonrise: evening | Moonset: morning
- Illumination: 100% to 50% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the left side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the right side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: moving from Full Moon to Third Quarter Moon
The Moon can still look quite full a few days after Full Moon in the Waning Gibbous phase.
Third Quarter Moon (Half Moon)
- Moon phase: primary
- Moonrise: around midnight | Moonset: around midday
- Illumination: 50% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the left side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the right side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: the Moon has gone three quarters of the way on its orbit around Earth
The Third Quarter Moon begins the last quarter of the lunar cycle.
Waning Crescent Moon
- Moon phase: intermediate
- Moonrise: early morning | Moonset: afternoon
- Illumination: 50% to 0% (approx)
- Orientation: the lit part appears on the left side in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the right side in the Southern Hemisphere - Position in space: moving from Third Quarter to New Moon
The Crescent phases can be a good time to see Earthshine, when sunlight reflected from Earth gives the dark areas of the Moon a faint glow.