The Ultimate Guide to the Phases of the Moon [2025]: A Complete Lunar Calendar
Unravel the mysteries of the night sky. This expert guide explains the complete 29.5-day lunar cycle, from the invisible New Moon to the brilliant Full Moon, and teaches you how to identify each phase.
The Moon is Earth’s constant companion, but its appearance is always changing. One night it’s a brilliant circle, and the next it’s a slender sliver. These changes are known as the phases of the moon. The Moon doesn’t produce its own light; what we see is simply sunlight reflecting off its surface. The “shape” we see depends entirely on the Moon’s position in its orbit around the Earth, which changes how much of the sunlit side is visible to us.
The Lunar Cycle Explained
The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete one full orbit around the Earth. This period is known as a lunar cycle or a synodic month. During this cycle, we see the Moon go through its eight distinct phases. Two key terms to understand are:
Waxing: After the New Moon, the sunlit portion we see is growing, or “waxing.” This continues until the Full Moon.
Waning: After the Full Moon, the sunlit portion we see is shrinking, or “waning,” as it moves back toward the New Moon.
A simple trick for the Northern Hemisphere: if the right side of the Moon is lit, it’s waxing. If the left side is lit, it’s waning.
The 8 Phases of the Moon in Order
The lunar cycle is a continuous process, but it’s typically divided into these eight key phases.
1. New Moon
The sunlit side faces away from Earth. The moon is not visible (or is only a faint silhouette).
2. Waxing Crescent
A small sliver of the moon’s right side is illuminated. It appears soon after sunset.
3. First Quarter
The right half of the moon is illuminated. It’s high in the sky at sunset and sets around midnight.
4. Waxing Gibbous
More than half of the right side is illuminated. It’s visible for most of the night.
5. Full Moon
The entire side facing Earth is lit. It rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, visible all night.
6. Waning Gibbous
More than half of the left side is illuminated. It rises after sunset and is visible late at night.
7. Third Quarter
The left half of the moon is illuminated. It rises around midnight and is visible in the morning sky.
8. Waning Crescent
A small sliver of the moon’s left side is illuminated. It’s visible just before sunrise.
How to Observe the Moon Tonight
Identifying the moon’s phase is easy and rewarding. Here’s a simple guide.
Find the Moon: Look for the moon in the sky. Its position and the time it’s visible are your first clues. A moon high in the sky at sunset is likely a First Quarter. A moon rising as the sun sets is a Full Moon.
Check the Illumination: Observe which part is lit. Is it a sliver, half, or more than half?
Determine Direction (Northern Hemisphere): If the light is on the right, the moon is waxing (growing). If the light is on the left, the moon is waning (shrinking). This simple observation will tell you whether you are heading toward a Full Moon or a New Moon.
FAQs: Your Moon Phase Questions, Answered
What are the 8 phases of the moon in order?
The 8 phases of the moon in order are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
How long is a full lunar cycle?
A full lunar cycle, from one New Moon to the next, takes approximately 29.5 days. This is also known as a synodic month.
What is a new moon?
A New Moon is the first phase, where the moon is between the Earth and the Sun. From our perspective, the side of the moon facing us is not illuminated by the sun, so it is not visible in the night sky.
What is a full moon?
A Full Moon occurs when the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. The entire side of the moon facing Earth is illuminated, appearing as a complete, bright circle in the sky.
What is the difference between waxing and waning?
‘Waxing’ means the illuminated portion of the moon is growing larger each night, progressing from a New Moon to a Full Moon. ‘Waning’ means the illuminated portion is getting smaller, moving from a Full Moon back to a New Moon.
Can you see the moon during the day?
Yes, it’s very common to see the moon during the day. This happens most often during the First Quarter and Third Quarter phases, when the moon is far enough from the sun in the sky to be visible in daylight.
What is a crescent moon?
A crescent moon is when the moon appears as a thin, curved sliver. A Waxing Crescent appears after the New Moon, and a Waning Crescent appears just before the next New Moon.
What is a gibbous moon?
A gibbous moon is a phase where more than half of the moon is illuminated, but it is not yet a Full Moon. A Waxing Gibbous leads up to a Full Moon, and a Waning Gibbous follows it.
What is a blue moon?
A ‘Blue Moon’ is the term for a second Full Moon that occurs within a single calendar month. Since the lunar cycle is 29.5 days, this happens occasionally, about once every 2.7 years.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens during a Full Moon when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, and Earth’s shadow obscures the moon or a portion of it, often giving it a reddish tint (a ‘blood moon’).
Does the moon rotate?
Yes, the moon does rotate on its own axis. It rotates at the same rate that it revolves around the Earth (a phenomenon called synchronous rotation), which is why we always see the same side of the moon.
How does the moon affect tides?
The moon’s gravitational pull creates a bulge in the Earth’s oceans. The side of the Earth closest to the moon experiences the strongest pull (high tide), and the opposite side also bulges out (another high tide). Low tides occur in the areas between these bulges.
What is the dark side of the moon?
The term ‘dark side of the moon’ is a misnomer. The more accurate term is the ‘far side of the moon,’ which is the hemisphere we never see from Earth due to synchronous rotation. Both sides of the moon experience day and night, just like Earth.
How to track moon phases tonight?
You can track the moon phase for tonight by using a reliable online moon phase calendar, a mobile astronomy app, or by simply observing the moon in the sky. If the right side is lit (in the Northern Hemisphere), it’s waxing; if the left side is lit, it’s waning.
What is a supermoon?
A ‘supermoon’ is a popular term for a Full Moon or New Moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit (its perigee). This makes the moon appear slightly larger and brighter in the sky than usual.
Does the moon phase affect mood?
Scientifically, there is no conclusive evidence that moon phases directly affect human mood or behavior. Many studies have found no correlation between the lunar cycle and psychological changes. However, the idea remains a popular belief in folklore and astrology.
Conclusion: Your Journey Through the Cosmos
Understanding the phases of the moon is to understand our place in the solar system. This predictable, beautiful cycle connects us to the cosmos and has fascinated humanity for millennia. By learning to identify the phases, you can develop a deeper appreciation for the celestial dance happening above us every night.
Final Tip:Use a pair of binoculars to get a closer look at the moon’s craters and seas, especially along the ‘terminator’ line where light and shadow meet.