Question

Lunar phases in order

Answer 1

The lunar phases occur in a cycle that lasts about 29.5 days, known as a lunar month. The phases, in order, are as follows:

1. **New Moon**: The moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, making it invisible from Earth.
2. **Waxing Crescent**: A small sliver of the moon begins to be illuminated, and it appears as a crescent shape.
3. **First Quarter**: Half of the moon is illuminated, and it appears as a half-circle.
4. **Waxing Gibbous**: More than half of the moon is illuminated and appears bulging or gibbous.
5. **Full Moon**: The entire face of the moon is illuminated, making it fully visible.
6. **Waning Gibbous**: After the full moon, the illumination begins to decrease, but more than half is still visible.
7. **Last Quarter** (or Third Quarter): Half of the moon is illuminated again, but this time the opposite half is lit compared to the First Quarter.
8. **Waning Crescent**: A small sliver of the moon is illuminated again, decreasing in size as it approaches the New Moon.

After the Waning Crescent, the cycle repeats with the New Moon.