Phases of the Moon: Names of Different Stages, Surface Features and Interesting Facts

Have you ever wondered why the moon changes shapes? This is due to the different phases of the moon. As the moon doesn’t have any light, it can only reflect the light from the sun which decides its shape. When we see the moon appearing in different shapes we see only some part of the moon receiving the sunlight. These changes in the shape of the moon are known as the phases of the moon. Let’s explore some interesting facts about the different phases of the moon.

Table of Contents

• What are the Phases of the Moon
• Names of the Different Phases of the Moon
• Interesting Facts about the Moon

What are the Phases of the Moon

The phases of the moon also known as the lunar cycle is a full journey that the moon completes around earth in 29.5 days. Depending on the amount of light it reflects, the moon appears differently from earth which we call as the phases of a moon. The first phase of the moon’s journey around the earth begins when the moon is exactly between the sun and earth. This stage is known as the new moon phase. In this stage the moon completely disappears from the sky. When the visible part of the moon starts to get bigger day by day it is called the waxing phase and when it appears to be getting smaller it is called waning phase.

Names of the Different Phases of the Moon 

There are eight different phases of the moon. Each phase is explained below:

New Moon: When the moon is between sun and earth it is completely invisible as the side of the moon facing the earth doesn’t receive any sunlight. This is known as the new moon.

Waxing Crescent: The waxing crescent is the phase of the moon when it moves a little ahead after two or three days while rotating around the earth. The moon reaches in the waxing phase to appear like a crescent shape.

First Quarter: The half lit portion of the moon reflecting the sunlight is known as its first quarter. This phase comes after one week of the new moon when the sun is in a 90 degree position with the moon and receives sunlight on half part. 

Waxing Gibbous: The word gibbous came from the Latin word which means hump. The moon in gibbous phase appears like a hump or a convex shape. The size of the moon in this phase is more than half which is still growing so we call it a waxing gibbous. 

Full Moon: When the moon receives the full flight from the sun and glows completely in round shape we call it a full moon. It happens when earth is exactly between sun and moon. A full moon appears after two weeks from the lunar cycle.

Waning Gibbous: After full moon the waning stage begins and the moon starts to shrink again. It enters into the waning gibbous phase within 2-3 days after full moon.

Third Quarter: During the last quarter or the third quarter phase the moon is again half illuminated. This phase comes after three weeks of the new moon. The declining or shrinking half moon is going towards the end of the lunar cycle.

Waning Crescent: The last and the final phase in the lunar cycle is the waning crescent. It is the last stage before the cycle begins again. The waning crescent moon appears as a thin shiny silver light slowly fading as it moves towards the new moon phase.

Interesting Facts about Phases of the Moon

• In the past we used to follow a lunar calendar that was based on the motion and appearance of the moon.

• The moon is around 239,000 miles away from earth.
• Our moon is 400 times closer to us than the sun.
• Other planets like Venus and Saturn have moons that orbit around them. 
• Saturn has the highest number of moons: 146 recognised moons revolving around it.