1. Moon Phases

2. Earth & Moon: Both Show Phases!
Galileo spacecraft, 1992

3. What is each Phase called?
New Moon - The Moon's unilluminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon is not visible (except during a solar eclipse).

4. What is each Phase called?
Waxing Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

5. What is each Phase called?
First Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

6. What is each Phase called?
Waxing Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing.

7. What is each Phase called?
Full Moon - The Moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight.

8. What is each Phase called?
Waning Gibbous - The Moon appears to be more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

9. What is each Phase called?
Last Quarter - One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

10. What is each Phase called?
Waning Crescent - The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing.

11. And Finally… Following waning crescent is
New Moon, beginning a repetition of the complete phase cycle of 29.5 days average duration.

12. How many total Phases do we see from the moon?