What Are the Phases of the Moon

All the planets get light from the Sun in the solar system only. We know that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Similarly, Moon also revolves around the Earth and rotates on its axis. Moon also gets the light from the Sun.
Similar to earth the moon has a day side and a night side. The Earth's and Sun's position changes due to their revolving motion, affecting the reflection of light from the Sun on the Moon.

For this reason, we get different phases of the Moon.

How Many Phases of Moons Are There

There are eight phases of the Moon. Those are divided in two parts.

1. Primary phases
2. Intermediate phases

There are 4 primary phases and 4 intermediate phases.

Phases of Moon Drawing

New Moon

What Is a New Moon?

A new moon is a phase when we cannot see the Moon in the night sky. It appears when the Moon, Earth and Sun are aligned, and Sun and Earth are on the opposite sides of the Moon.

Waxing Crescent Moon

After the new Moon, this intermediate moon phase comes.

During this phase, less than half of the Moon's surface is visible in the night sky, lasting until the first quarter moon.

First Quarter Moon

It is a primary moon phase when clearly half of the Moon's face is illuminated in the Sun's ray and can be seen in the night sky; whether the right or left half depends on your position on Earth.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

In this moon phase, the Moon is visible more than half of its part in the night sky. This is an intermediate moon phase starts after the first quarter moon and lasts until the full Moon.

Full Moon

The entire face of the Moon is visible in the night sky during the phase of the full Moon. It appears when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth. 100% of the Moon's face is lit up by the Sun during this time.

Waning Gibbous Moon

It is another intermediate moon phase. It started after the full Moon lasting until the third quarter moon. During this phase, the visible portion of the Moon in the night sky is more than half a portion of the Moon.

Third Quarter Moon

The third quarter moon appeared when another half of the Moon lit up compared to the first quarter. Though which half you will see, right or left depends upon your position on the Earth.

Waning Crescent Moon

The lunar month comes to an end with this phase. It falls between the third quarter moon and the coming new Moon.

During this phase, less than half a portion of the Moon is visible in the night sky.