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New Moon The Moon's un-illuminated (dark) side is
facing the Earth. The Moon is barely visible, because of
reflecting Earth light back at us, and is most visible during
a solar eclipse. (Day 0) |
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Waxing Crescent The Moon is less than one-half
illuminated, on the right side, by sunlight. The fraction of the
Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing nightly. (Days
16) |
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First Quarter The right half of the Moon is illuminated
by sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated
is still increasing nightly. (Day 7.4) |
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Waxing Gibbous The Moon is more than one-half
illuminated, on the right side, by sunlight. The fraction of the
Moon's disk that is illuminated is still increasing nightly.
(Days 813) |
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Full Moon The Moon's illuminated side is facing the
Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct
sunlight.
(Day 14.8) |
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Waning Gibbous The Moon is more than one-half
illuminated, on the left side, by sunlight. The fraction of the
Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing nightly. (Days
1521) |
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Third or Last Quarter One-half of the Moon is
illuminated, on the left side, by sunlight. The fraction of the
Moon's disk that is illuminated is still decreasing nightly.
(Day 22.1) |
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Waning Crescent The Moon is less than one-half
illuminated, on the left side, by sunlight. The fraction of the
Moon's disk that is illuminated is still decreasing nightly.
(Days 2328) |
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Following the waning crescent is another New Moon
(Day 29.5), beginning a repeat of the complete phase cycle,
which averages 29.5 days. The time in days is counted from the
New Moon, and is called the Moon's "age". Each complete cycle of
phases is called a "lunation". When you are done reading this,
get on the internet on my computer and go to:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/moonlight.html
to take the quiz on the phases of the moon. |
