The Phases of the Moon

Here are all the phases of the Moon, in the order they occur during the lunar cycle:

🌑 1. New Moon

• The Moon is between the Earth and Sun.
  
• The side facing Earth is not illuminated, so it appears invisible or very dark.
  

🌒 2. Waxing Crescent

• A small sliver of light appears on the right side.
  
• The Moon is “waxing,” meaning it’s getting more illuminated each night.
  

🌓 3. First Quarter

• Half of the Moon is visible (right side lit up).
  
• It’s called “first quarter” because the Moon is a quarter of the way through its cycle.
  

🌔 4. Waxing Gibbous

• More than half is lit, but not yet full.
  
• Continues to “wax” toward the Full Moon.
  

🌕 5. Full Moon

• The entire face of the Moon is illuminated.
  
• Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.
  

🌖 6. Waning Gibbous

• After the Full Moon, the light starts decreasing.
  
• The left side is still mostly lit, but the right side begins to darken.
  

🌗 7. Last Quarter (or Third Quarter)

• Half of the Moon is visible again (left side lit up).
  
• The Moon is three-quarters of the way through its cycle.
  

🌘 8. Waning Crescent

• Only a small sliver of light remains on the left side.
  
• Leading back to the New Moon phase.
  

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Tips:

• “Waxing” = growing in light
  
• “Waning” = shrinking in light
  
• The full cycle takes about 29.5 days and is called a lunar month or lunation.

Next time you’re camping under the stars at Terre Haute Campground, check to see what phase the moon is in!