THE PHASES OF THE MOON

Have you ever looked up into the sky and realize that the moon looks a little bit different from what you have seen before? Well so have many other people! Scientists decided to call these changes phases for the moon.

What is a phase of the moon?

The phases of the moon are what it is called when the moons position to earth and the sun changes. One example of this is the full moon.

The new moon

the new moon is the start of the phases of the moon. A new moon shows if the moon is between the earth and the sun.

Waxing crescent

Waxing crescent is the second phase of the moon and is the first part to show up.

First quarter

The first quarter is the third part of the phases of the moon and shows the complete left half of the moon.

Waxing gibbous

Waxing gibbous is the last of the waxing phases in the phases of the moon.

The full moon

In this phase all of the moon is visible and marks the start of the transition to a new moon.

Waning gibbous

The waning is the beginning of the waning parts of the phases.

Final quarter

This phase shows the complete right side of the moon

Waning crescent

The waning crescent is the final part of the cycle.