The Moon's phases

The Moon's phases refer to the different appearances of the Moon as seen from Earth throughout the lunar cycle. The Moon's phases are caused by the changing positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun in relation to each other. The lunar cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, and during this time, the Moon goes through the following phases:

New Moon: The Moon is not visible from Earth during this phase because it is in between the Earth and the Sun.

Waxing Crescent: The Moon begins to appear as a thin crescent shape on the right-hand side. This phase lasts from 1-6 days after the New Moon.

First Quarter: The Moon appears as a half-circle shape and is illuminated on the right-hand side. This phase lasts from 7-13 days after the New Moon.

Waxing Gibbous: The Moon appears as a nearly full circle shape, with a small sliver of darkness on the left-hand side. This phase lasts from 14-20 days after the New Moon.

Full Moon: The Moon appears as a complete circle and is fully illuminated by the Sun. This phase lasts from 21-27 days after the New Moon.

Waning Gibbous: The Moon appears as a nearly full circle shape, with a small sliver of darkness on the right-hand side. This phase lasts from 22-29 days after the New Moon.

Third Quarter: The Moon appears as a half-circle shape and is illuminated on the left-hand side. This phase lasts from 22-29 days after the New Moon.

Waning Crescent: The Moon appears as a thin crescent shape on the left-hand side. This phase lasts from 22-29 days after the New Moon, until it returns to the New Moon phase and the cycle begins again.

It's important to note that the actual duration of each phase can vary slightly, and the Moon's phases may appear slightly different depending on your location and the time of day.