🌙 Phases of the Moon: Why Its Shape Seems to Change
The Moon doesn’t actually change shape. What changes is how much of its sunlit half we can see from Earth as the Moon orbits around us.
🌑 1. New Moon
The Moon is between Earth and the Sun. The side facing us is in shadow, so the Moon seems invisible.
🌒 2. Waxing Crescent
A thin sliver of light appears on the right side. “Waxing” means growing.
🌓 3. First Quarter
We see half the Moon lit—right side bright, left side dark.
🌔 4. Waxing Gibbous
More than half is lit, and the bright portion keeps growing.
🌕 5. Full Moon
Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. We see the entire sunlit side glowing.
🌖 6. Waning Gibbous
The lit portion starts shrinking. “Waning” means decreasing.
🌗 7. Last Quarter
Again, half the Moon is lit—this time the left side.
🌘 8. Waning Crescent
Only a thin crescent remains before the cycle returns to the new moon.