The Phases of the Moon

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Last Quarter Moon. (Half Moon)

  • Primary moon phase.
  • Moonrise: approximately at midnight | Moonset: approximately at midday.
  • Illumination: 50%.
  • Orientation: The left half is illuminated in the Northern Hemisphere, while the right half is illuminated in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Spatial location: the Moon has completed three quarters of its orbit around Earth.

    • The Last Quarter Moon. begins the last quarter of the lunar cycle.

    The Moon has completed exactly three quarters of its orbit around Earth, and we are facing the lit up surface of its third quarter.

    © timeanddate.com

    Waxing Crescent Moon. (Half Moon)

  • Primary moon phase.
  • Moonrise: approximately noon | Moonset: approximately midnight.
  • Illumination: 50%.
  • Orientation: The right half is illuminated in the Northern Hemisphere, while the left half is illuminated in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Spatial location: the Moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around Earth.

    • Look for the Waxing Crescent Moon. in the blue afternoon sky.

    Waxing Crescent Moon.: The Moon is 90 degrees from the Sun, and exactly half of the Moon’s surface facing us is lit up.

    © timeanddate.com

    Full Moon.

  • Primary moon phase.
  • Moonrise: approximately at sunset | Moonset: approximately at sunrise.
  • Illumination: 100%.
  • Spatial arrangement: Earth is situated between the Moon and the Sun, with the latter being on the opposite side.

    • 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.

    Full Moon.: The Moon and the Sun are on opposite sides of Earth, and the side facing us is completely lit up.

    © timeanddate.com

    Decreasing Gibbous Moon.

  • Lunar phase: moderate.
  • Moonrise: dusk | Moonset: dawn.
  • Lighting: 99.9% to 49.9%.
  • Orientation: The left half is illuminated in the Northern Hemisphere, while the right half is illuminated in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Position in space: moving from Full Moon. to Last Quarter Moon.

    • The Moon can still look quite full a few days after Full Moon. in the Waning Gibbous phase.

    Nearly full Moon.

  • Lunar phase: moderate.
  • Moonrise: noon | Moonset: dawn.
  • Lighting: 50.1% to 99.9%.
  • Orientation: The right half is illuminated in the Northern Hemisphere, while the left half is illuminated in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Position in space: moving from First Quarter to Full Moon.

    • A couple of days into the Nearly full Moon. phase, you can see the Golden Handle.

    How Do Moon Phases Work?

    We can see how much of the lit-up side changes as the Moon orbits Earth. Sunlight illuminates half of the Moon’s surface.

    The Moon: Our inherent satellite.

    Waxing Crescent Moon.

  • Lunar phase: moderate.
  • Moonrise: AM | Moonset: PM.
  • Brightness: 0.1% to 49.9%.
  • Orientation: The right half is illuminated in the Northern Hemisphere, while the left half is illuminated in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Position in space: moving from New Moon. to Waxing Crescent Moon.

    • The Moon’s dark areas are illuminated by a subtle radiance, which is the result of sunlight reflected from Earth. This phenomenon, known as Earthshine, offers a favorable opportunity to observe the Crescent phases.

    Does the Moon appear inverted in the opposite hemisphere?

    New Moon.

  • Primary moon phase.
  • Moonrise: approximately at sunrise | Moonset: approximately at sunset.
  • Illumination: 0%.
  • Spatial position: The Moon is situated 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.

    New Moon.: The Moon is between the Sun and Earth. Only the dark unlit side of the Moon is facing toward us.

    © timeanddate.com

    Moon Phases in Order

    The four primary and four intermediate (waxing and waning) Moon phases divide the eight phases of a lunar month.

  • New Moon.
  • Waxing Crescent Moon.
  • Waxing Crescent Moon.
  • Nearly full Moon.
  • Full Moon.
  • Decreasing Gibbous Moon.
  • Last Quarter Moon.
  • Diminishing Last Quarter Moon.

    • The lunar cycle typically spans around 29.5 days, which is slightly less than a full calendar month. The intermediate phases of the Moon occur in the intervals between these periods, while the exact moments in time occur during the primary phases of the Moon.