All Moon Phases Names, Order, and Key Characteristics

New Moon

The New Moon occurs when the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun. The side illuminated by the Sun faces fully away from Earth, so the Moon is not visible to the naked eye in this phase. Astronomically, this marks the start of the lunar cycle and is the point of 0° elongation between the Moon and the Sun. Though the Moon is dark from Earth, the portion called the dark moon is sometimes theoretically visible via earthshine, when sunlight reflects from Earth onto the lunar surface. Important note: because New Moon is not illuminated, it rises and sets close to the same time as the Sun, making it generally impossible to observe from Earth.

Waxing Crescent

After New Moon, a small sliver of the lunar disk becomes visible in the western sky after sunset. This phase is called the Waxing Crescent, because the illuminated portion is increasing nightly. The thin crescent sets a few hours after the Sun, and the remainder of the Moon may be faintly visible as earthshine. Observers can often identify this phase when only 2–8% of the Moon’s near side is illuminated. In many skywatching traditions, the Waxing Crescent is the first visually confirmable phase of the month.

Timing and Visibility

Waxing Crescent is typically visible in the early evening sky for a short window of time, mainly at lower latitudes during certain months. The crescent’s visibility depends on atmospheric conditions, the observer’s horizon, and the angle of the ecliptic. In many regions, this phase appears as a delicate arc hanging in dusk, providing an accessible target for beginning lunar observers.

First Quarter

First Quarter arrives when the Moon has completed roughly one quarter of its orbit around Earth since New Moon, placing it 90° east of the Sun in ecliptic longitude. Observers see exactly half of the Moon’s near side illuminated, with the dividing line (the terminator) running vertically. First Quarter rises around local noon and sets around local midnight, making it prominently visible in the afternoon and early evening sky. Due to its position, the phase offers high contrast along the terminator, ideal for observing lunar features.

Comparing First Quarter and Third Quarter

Both First Quarter and Third Quarter show half of the Moon’s near side illuminated, but they are mirror images. The right half is illuminated during First Quarter, while the left half is illuminated during Third Quarter. They are often confused, so it helps to note that First Quarter occurs roughly when the Moon reaches highest transit around local sunset, whereas Third Quarter transits around local sunrise.

Waxing Gibbous

Between First Quarter and Full Moon, the Moon passes through the Waxing Gibbous phase, where more than half but not all of the near side is illuminated. The illuminated fraction grows each night, approaching but not yet reaching 100%. During Waxing Gibbous, the Moon rises in the afternoon and remains visible for most of the night. Surface features near the limb appear foreshortened due to viewing angle, which can create optical illusions about size and shape.

Full Moon

Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon’s near side is fully illuminated. The Moon rises around local sunset and sets around local sunrise, making it visible all night. At this phase, the Moon’s apparent size and brightness peak slightly due to the geometry of the Earth–Moon–Sun alignment. Historically, Full Moon names in various cultures tracked seasonal events, such as Harvest Moon and Hunter’s Moon. Table 1 summarizes key identifiers for Full Moon.

Notable Full Moon Names and Timing

Many traditions assign names to Full Moons based on time of year. While exact dates shift annually, the following table illustrates typical months and associated names in the Northern Hemisphere. These names are cultural references and do not affect the astronomical definition of Full Moon.

Waning Gibbous

After Full Moon, the illuminated portion begins to shrink, entering the Waning Gibbous phase. More than half of the near side remains lit, but the illuminated area decreases each night. The Moon rises after sunset and sets after sunrise, gradually shifting to later rising times. Waning Gibbous is a useful phase for practicing identification of the terminator’s direction, since the shadow moves in the opposite direction compared to Waxing phases.

Third Quarter

Third Quarter, also called Last Quarter, occurs when the Moon has completed three quarters of its orbit since New Moon. The left half of the Moon’s near side is illuminated, with the terminator running vertically again. Third Quarter rises around local midnight and sets around local noon, making it best observed in the early morning sky. Like First Quarter, it shows half the disk lit, but on the opposite side.

Waning Crescent

Following Third Quarter, the Moon enters Waning Crescent, where only a thin crescent remains visible before New Moon. The illuminated fraction continues to shrink, and the Moon rises closer to sunrise, spending most of the daylight hours in the sky. This slim crescent can be challenging to spot when it is very thin, but it reappears in the western sky after sunset in the early evening before New Moon returns.

Putting It All Together: The Lunar Cycle

The sequence of all moon phases forms a repeating cycle approximately 29.5 days long, known as the synodic month. The phases in order are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent. Each phase is defined by the changing geometry of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, which alters the portion of the near side that receives sunlight and is visible from Earth. Understanding this sequence helps observers predict when and where each phase will appear, and how quickly the Moon moves through its cycle.