The Moon's Phases:
There are eight different phases of a lunar cycle or lunation. The alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth in the sky changes within each of these phases. The sequences of the phases of the Moon are discussed below:
There are eight different phases of a lunar cycle or lunation. The alignment of the Sun, Moon and Earth in the sky changes within each of these phases. The sequences of the phases of the Moon are discussed below:
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/1393250011.jpg)
New Moon: The first phase; this when the lighted side of the Moon faces away from the Earth and we cannot see it from the Earth. During the new moon phase, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are all lined up in one straight line. The Moon is placed in between the Earth and the Sun. As a result, the illuminated portion of the Moon becomes completely invisible to an observer standing on the Earth.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/1393249901.jpg)
Waxing Crescent: The second phase; a small portion of the Moon appears lighted and grow larger on successive days. The Moon starts drifting from the new moon phase towards the full moon phase. During this phase, the size of the illumined portion of the Moon is increasing and less than fifty percent of the Moon is visible to us. You can see the waxing crescent moon between sunset and midnight.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/5622006.gif)
First Quarter: The third phase; the right half of the Moon appears lighted, with the lighted part growing larger on successive days. Here, the Moon is positioned perpendicular with respect to both the Sun and the Earth. In this phase, right half portion of the Moon is illumined by sunlight and is visible in between afternoon and early part of the night.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/1945902.gif)
Waxing Gibbous: The fourth phase; more than half of the moon appears lighted. Waxing Gibbous - The duration of this phase is of seven days. Here, more than fifty percent of the Moon is illuminated from right to left. This appears just after sunset and is visible almost throughout the night.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/4100259.gif)
Full Moon: The fifth phase; lighted side of the moon faces toward the Earth. During the full moon, the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned in a straight line and the Earth lies in between the Moon and the Sun. Thus the entire illuminated portion of the Moon is visible to us. As opposed to the new moon phase, the moon during a full moon phase is on the opposite side of the earth. Hence, the part of the moon that is lit up by the sun can be clearly seen from the earth.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/3132447.gif)
Waning Gibbous: The sixth phase; more than half of the moon appears lighted, with less and less becoming lighted on successive days. This can be described as a phase where the visible portion of the Moon is shrinking to a smaller size. Still, more than fifty percent of it can be viewed from the Earth. During this period, the Moon is lit from left to right. This Moon can be seen by joggers and morning walkers early in the morning as it sets after sunrise.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/3512884.gif)
Third Quarter: The seventh phase; the left half of the Moon appears lighted. This is phase when the illumined portion of the Moon reduces to half of its size in the full moon phase. Here, the right half of the Moon remains un-illuminated. You can see it late at night or early in the morning. If you observe the image above, you will notice that the moon in this position looks exactly opposite to its first quarter.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/3/8/26385790/9441898.gif)
Waning Crescent: The eighth phase; a small portion of the lighted Moon is visible. This is an interesting phase as the Moon is getting smaller and you can see only a thin slice of the Moon and that too, not after midnight. This position of the moon is sometimes referred to as the old crescent moon.
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