Moon Phases Calendar

Moon phases
The different moon phases are caused by the relative positions of the earth, sun and moon. The moon rotates around the earth on average in 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes. The sun illuminates the half of the moon facing the sun, except during lunar eclipses when the moon passes through the earth's shadow. When the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth, the moon appears a full, bright, round disk. When the moon is between the earth and the sun, it appears a dark, new moon. The moon's illuminated surface appears to grow to full, then decreases to the next new moon. The edge of the shadow is always curved, being an oblique view of a circle. This provides the moon the familiar crescent shape. As the horns of the moon at the ends of the crescent are facing away from the setting or rising sun, they always point upward in the sky.

Moon phases calendar
The different phases of the moon are as follows:

New Moon : The unilluminated side of the Moon faces the earth. The Moon is invisible, except during a solar eclipse. The illuminated side of the Moon is away from the Earth. Thus, the Sun, Earth and Moon are nearly in a straight line. The Moon is positioned in between the Sun and the Earth. The Moon looks extremely dark.

Waxing Crescent : The Moon seems to be partially but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The part of the Moon's disk that is lighted is increasing. This Moon is visible after the New Moon, but before the First Quarter Moon. The crescent increases every day, till the Moon appears like the First Quarter Moon.

First Quarter : Half of the Moon is lighted by direct sunlight. The part of the Moon's disk which is lighted goes on increasing. The right half of the Moon seems illuminated and the left side of the Moon seems dark. Between the New Moon and the First Quarter Moon, the part of the Moon that looks illuminated becomes larger day after day and continues to grow till the Full Moon.

Waxing Gibbous : The Moon is more than one-half but not fully lighted by direct sunlight. The part of the Moon's disk that is lighted goes on increasing. This Moon is visible after the First Quarter Moon, but before the Full Moon. The Moon becomes large day by day.

Full Moon : The Moon's lighted part faces the Earth. It seems to be totally lighted by direct sunlight. The illuminated side of the Moon is on the side of the Earth. This indicates that the Earth, Sun and Moon are almost along a straight line. The Earth is present in the middle. The Moon that is seen is very bright due to the sunlight reflecting off it.

Waning Gibbous : The Moon seems to be more than one-half. However, it is not directly lighted by direct sunlight. The part of the Moon that is lighted is decreasing. This Moon is visible after the Full Moon and before the Last Quarter Moon. The Moon decreases day by day.

Last Quarter : One-half of the Moon is lighted by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is lighted decreases. This is also called Third Quarter. The left half of the Moon looks lighted and the right side is dark. Between the Full Moon and the Last Quarter Moon, the part of the Moon looking illuminated wanes each day. This shrinks till the New Moon.

Waning Crescent : The Moon seems to be partially and less than one-half lighted by direct sunlight. The part of the Moon's disk that is lighted decreases. This Moon is visible after the Last Quarter Moon and prior to the New Moon. This crescent wanes day after day, till the Moon appears like the New Moon.