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Moon (Lunar) Phases Vocabulary
Lunar cycle
The moon's journey around the Earth. It takes 29.5 days, approximately 1 month.
(Lunar) Phase
The different ways the Moon looks from Earth over about a month.
Revolution/ Revolve
Moving in an orbit around something else.
New moon
The phase of the moon when it is invisible from earth. 0%
Full moon
The phase of the moon in which its whole disk is illuminated. 100%
first quarter moon
A Moon phase when we can see exactly half (50%, right side) of the Moon's visible surface illuminated.
"Light on the right is growing bright"
"Light on the right is growing bright"
third quarter moon
A Moon phase when we can see exactly half (50%, left side) of the Moon's visible surface illuminated. Also known as the last quarter.
"Light on the Left is Losing Light"
"Light on the Left is Losing Light"
crescent moon
The phase of the moon when less than half (<50%) of the illuminated hemisphere is visible. Looks like a toenail or the letter 'c.'
A waxing crescent has light on the right side. ("light on the right is growing bright.")
A waning crescent has light on the left side. ("light on the left is losing light.")
A waxing crescent has light on the right side. ("light on the right is growing bright.")
A waning crescent has light on the left side. ("light on the left is losing light.")
gibbous moon
The phase of the moon when more than half (>50%) of the illuminated hemisphere is visible.
A waxing gibbous has light on the right side. ("light on the right is growing bright.")
A waning gibbous has light on the left side. ("light on the left is losing light.")
A waxing gibbous has light on the right side. ("light on the right is growing bright.")
A waning gibbous has light on the left side. ("light on the left is losing light.")
waxing moon
Waxing is "Maxing," or growing with light until a full moon is reached.
Light will be on the right side: "Light on the right is growing bright."
You can have a waxing crescent or a waxing gibbous.
Light will be on the right side: "Light on the right is growing bright."
You can have a waxing crescent or a waxing gibbous.
Waning moon
Waning is light decreasing after a full moon, and is always illuminated on the left.
Light will be on the left side: "Light on the left is growing bright."
You can have a waning crescent or a waning gibbous.
Light will be on the left side: "Light on the left is growing bright."
You can have a waning crescent or a waning gibbous.
Eclipse
A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves in front of the Sun as seen from a location on Earth.