lunar phases
Moon's changing faces
Lunar phases are the cyclical changes in the moon's appearance as seen from Earth, caused by the varying angle of sunlight illuminating its surface.
The cycle runs from new moon (invisible) through waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, then waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent before returning to new.
The complete cycle takes about 29.5 days.
The lunar phases determine the best nights for stargazing.
- full moonCompletely lit satellite phase
- moonNatural planetary satellite
- moon phasesShifting illumination of satellite
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- harvest moonFull moon nearest autumn equinox
once in a blue moon · ephemeris · terminator · earthshine · first quarter · selenology · waning gibbous · waning crescent · crescent moon · tide · tidal pull · night · night sky · new moon · waxing crescent · orbit · astronomical tables · cycle
- Moon scienceApollo program, moon rocks, moon dust, moon water, moonquakes
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- moonfull moon, crescent moon, new moon, half moon, moonlight
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- celestial cyclessolar cycle, orbit, eclipse, solstice, equinox
lunar phasessupernovae
Exploding massive stars
comets · asteroid impacts · solar eclipses · meteor showers · lunar eclipses
phase, lunar, lunatic, moonless, menses, luna, moonscape, lunate, lunation