PHASES OF THE MOON

The moon is about four times smaller than the Earth. It rotates on its axis and revolutes around the Earth. It takes around 28 days to complete one revolution and the same time to complete one rotation. This is why we (from the Earth) do not see always the same side of the Moon.  Here you have some easy pictures to learn the names of the different phases.

NEW MOON: we do not see the moon.

WAXING CRESCENT: We see only a very small fraction of the Moon.

QUARTER MOON: The moon has completed one quarter of its orbit around the Earth. Half of the Moon is seen.

WAXING GIBBOUS: We see more than half moon and less than full Moon.

FULL MOON: The whole of the disk of the Moon is illuminated.

WANING GIBBOUS: After full Moon and before seeing half of the Moon.

LAST QUARTER: Only one quarter of the Moon's orbit is to be completed. Half of the Moon is visible.

WANING CRESCENT: The illuminated part of the Moon decreases from the lit up semicircle, then, little by little it will disappear completely.

FULL MOON: The entire face of the Moon is illuminated.