What are the Moon Phases Called?

The moon has fascinated human beings for centuries. Its ever-changing phases are one of the reasons it continues to captivate us. But have you ever wondered what those phases are called? In this article, we’ll explore the names of the Moon phases and what they mean.

New Moon

The New Moon is the first phase in the lunar cycle. It’s when the Moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, with its completely dark side facing us. The New Moon is also known as the Dark Moon.

Waxing Crescent

The second phase in the lunar cycle is the Waxing Crescent. It’s when the Moon starts to grow and illuminate more each night. At this point, the Moon is only visible as a thin crescent shape.

First Quarter

The First Quarter is the third phase in the lunar cycle. It occurs when the Moon has completed a quarter of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, the Moon is half-illuminated and half in shadow, creating a distinctive appearance on the sky.

Waxing Gibbous

The Waxing Gibbous phase happens when the Moon continues to grow and illuminate more each night. During this phase, the Moon appears as a large, glowing orb that is almost fully illuminated.

Full Moon

The Full Moon is the fifth phase in the lunar cycle and is perhaps the most well-known of all the Moon phases. It’s when the Moon is directly opposite the Sun, and its entire illuminated side is visible from Earth. The Full Moon is traditionally associated with nights of magic and mystery.

Waning Gibbous

The Waning Gibbous is the sixth phase in the lunar cycle. During this phase, the Moon starts to shrink and become less illuminated each night. It appears as a large, glowing orb that is still visible in the sky.

Last Quarter

The Last Quarter is the seventh phase in the lunar cycle. It occurs when the Moon has completed three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, the Moon is half in shadow and half-illuminated in a different way than the First Quarter.

Waning Crescent

The Waning Crescent is the final phase in the lunar cycle. It’s when the Moon continues to shrink and become less illuminated each night until it’s entirely dark again. At this point, the Moon is once again invisible to the naked eye.

In conclusion, understanding and being able to identify the Moon phases can help you appreciate the beauty and mystery of our closest celestial neighbor. Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a seasoned astronomer, being able to recognize each of these phases adds a whole new dimension to the experience of observing the Moon in the night sky.

What Are the Moon Phases Called?

The moon is one of the most beautiful celestial bodies in our solar system. It illuminates our night sky and controls the tides of our oceans. The moon’s changing phases are a fascinating sight to behold, and they have been the subject of many scientific studies and myths. In this blog post, we aim to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the moon’s phases and what they are called.

What Are Moon Phases?

Moon phases refer to the different appearances of the moon as seen from Earth. From our viewpoint on Earth, the moon appears to change shape every night. These changes are known as the moon’s phases. The moon’s phases are determined by its orbit around the Earth, as well as the Earth’s position relative to the sun.

How Many Moon Phases Are There?

There are 8 moon phases in total. These include:

1. New Moon

A new moon occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, and the side of the moon facing the Earth is not illuminated by sunlight. During a new moon, the moon is not visible from Earth. The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle.

2. Waxing Crescent

The waxing crescent occurs after the new moon. During this phase, the moon is slowly beginning to light up, with just a small fraction of the visible surface illuminated. The crescent shape of the moon becomes more visible each night until it reaches the first quarter.

3. First Quarter

The first quarter occurs when the moon has completed one-quarter of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, half of the visible surface of the moon is illuminated. This phase is often mistaken for a full moon in its early days.

4. Waxing Gibbous

As the moon continues to move around the Earth, its illuminated surface grows larger, and it enters the waxing gibbous phase. During this phase, more than half of the visible surface area of the moon is illuminated.

5. Full Moon

The full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, and the entire visible surface of the moon is illuminated by sunlight. The full moon is the brightest and most recognizable phase of the lunar cycle.

6. Waning Gibbous

After the full moon, the moon begins to move back towards the new moon phase. During this phase, the amount of illuminated surface area of the moon decreases each night, with more of the shadow side visible.

7. Last Quarter

The last quarter occurs when the moon has completed three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, half of the visible surface area of the moon is illuminated, but the opposite side is now illuminated than during the first quarter.

8. Waning Crescent

The waning crescent is the final phase of the lunar cycle. During this phase, the illuminated surface area of the moon continues to shrink until it becomes a tiny sliver barely visible in the early morning sky.

What are the Moon Phases Called?

The moon is an astronomical object that has fascinated people for centuries. It is the brightest object in the night sky and has been the subject of myths and legends for ages. As the moon orbits around the Earth, it goes through different phases, each with their own unique name. This blog post will explain the different moon phases and their names in order.

What Causes the Moon Phases?

Before we dive into the different moon phases, it is important to know what causes them. The moon’s phases are caused by its position in relation to the Earth and the Sun. As the moon orbits around the Earth, different parts of it are illuminated by the Sun. The amount of sunlight that is reflected off the moon towards Earth changes as the moon moves in its orbit, causing the different moon phases.

The Different Moon Phases and Names

There are eight different moon phases, and each one has its own name. The following is a list of the names of the different moon phases in order:

1. New Moon

The new moon is the beginning of the moon’s cycle. It occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, so that the side of the moon facing Earth is not illuminated. This means that the moon is not visible from Earth during the new moon phase.

2. Waxing Crescent

The waxing crescent phase occurs after the new moon. During this phase, the moon appears as a thin crescent on the right side. The moon is still too close to the Sun to be visible for most of the night.

3. First Quarter

The first quarter phase occurs when the moon has completed one-quarter of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, half of the moon is visible from Earth. This moon phase is sometimes called a half-moon.

4. Waxing Gibbous

The waxing gibbous phase occurs after the first quarter. During this phase, the moon appears to be more than half lit, but not yet a full moon. The illuminated portion of the moon is on the right side.

5. Full Moon

The full moon is the most well-known moon phase. It occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, so that its illuminated side is facing Earth. This moon phase is fully illuminated and can appear very bright.

6. Waning Gibbous

The waning gibbous phase occurs after the full moon. During this phase, the moon appears to be more than half lit, but not yet a half-moon. The illuminated portion of the moon is on the left side.

7. Third Quarter

The third quarter phase occurs when the moon has completed three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth. During this phase, half of the moon is visible from Earth, but the illuminated portion is on the left side. This moon phase is also called a half-moon.

8. Waning Crescent

The waning crescent phase occurs after the third quarter. During this phase, the moon appears as a thin crescent on the left side. The moon is still too close to the Sun to be visible for most of the night.

Moon Phase Calendar

A moon phase calendar can be a helpful tool for tracking the moon’s phases, especially if you are interested in astronomy or astrology. There are many websites and apps available that offer a moon phase calendar, which can also include additional information, such as the moon’s rise and set times and the zodiac sign it is currently in.

Conclusion

The different moon phases have been the subject of interest and fascination for people throughout history. Whether you are interested in astronomy, astrology, or simply enjoy stargazing, understanding the moon phases is an important part of learning about our solar system. We hope this guide has provided valuable information about the different moon phases and their unique names. Remember to use a moon phase calendar to keep track of the moon’s phases, and happy stargazing!