The Moon changes its light throughout its cycle of phases, which last 29.5 days. This is a little shorter than a normal calendar month.
The Moon’s phases depend on its position relative to Earth and Sun. They repeat themselves every 29.5 days, or a so-called synodic cycle.
New Moon
When the Moon revolves around Earth, it shines from varying angles. The cycles of these phases repeat themselves about every 29.5 days.
For most people, the New Moon is a time of rebirth and beginnings. It’s a good time to reflect on what you’ve learned and to set intentions for the next few weeks.
First Quarter
The first quarter of the moon’s cycle repeats itself about once every month. It is a time of energy and action.
This is a good time to start new projects or challenges that you have been putting off. However, it is important not to overdo it.
This phase is also an excellent time to observe the moon, especially if it’s still visible in the sky. It’s a great opportunity for stargazing and photography.
Full Moon
The moon goes through different appearance phases, as it revolves around the Earth. Each of these phases occurs in about 29-and-a-half days.
The moon’s phases are defined by the illumination of the Sun on a portion of the satellite facing our Earth. They vary in shape, from crescent to half-moon to gibbous and full.
Last Quarter
The moon goes through a cycle of phases, or appearances. This cycle is caused by the moon’s orbit around Earth, in relation to the Sun.
The first phase, which is called a crescent moon, appears from our point of view low in the west just after sunset. The next phase, which is called a full moon, appears due to the position of the moon between the Sun and Earth.
Waxing Crescent
The moon’s phases are cyclical and occur about once every 29.5 days. The phases are caused by the orbit of the moon around the earth in relation to the sun.
The waxing crescent phase is a time for reflection, when you may take stock of your life lessons and how they have helped shape your internal growth. You may also want to review your goals and take steps to make them more realistic.
Waxing Gibbous
When the Moon revolves around the Earth, it appears in varying states of light. These phases repeat themselves about once every 29.5 days.
The waxing gibbous phase is the first intermediate phase in the cycle and occurs after the first quarter moon and before the Full Moon. It is a time of abundance, culmination and fertility.
Waning Crescent
For thousands of years, humans have observed the changes in the moon’s face. The moon revolves around the Earth once every 29.5 days and, as a result, it has different phases that repeat themselves about once a month.
These phases are the New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Last Quarter. They are a reflection of the way that the Moon moves around the Earth, with its elliptical orbit.
Waning Waxing
A complete moon cycle repeats itself about once every 29.5 days. That’s because the Moon revolves around the Earth every 27.3 days, causing a part of its surface to be illuminated from different angles.
This illumination causes the moon to appear in several different appearance phases — new, first quarter, full, waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent. You can easily see these phases by looking at the moon in the night sky.