Cosmicle - Phases of the Moon

    What are the Lunar phases? 

Our Moon doesn't shine, it reflects.

The phase of a Moon is the shape of the directly sunlit portion of the Moon as viewed from the Earth. The lunar phases gradually change over a period of time, which is called a Synodic month (about 29.53 days). 

However, just how much of that light we can see from our point of view on Earth varies every day and this is what we refer to as a Moon phase.

    Types of phases of the Moon

There are four principal lunar phases: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. These 8 phases are in order - 

1. New Moon
2. Waxing Crescent
3. First Quarter 
4. Waxing Gibbous
5. Full Moon
6. Waning Gibbous
7. Last Quarter
8. Waning Crescent

Each of these phases appears at slightly different times at different locations on Earth. Between the Principal phases are intermediate phases, during which the moon's shape is either crescent or gibbous.