Lunar Phase: New Moon
Lunar Cycle: 0 days
Percentage Illuminated: 0%
The new moon phase marks the beginning of the lunar phase. It is invisible from the Earth, and happens when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and the sunlit part of the Moon faces away from the Earth.
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent Moon
Lunar Cycle: 2 - 6 days
Percentage Illuminated: 1% - 49%
The waxing crescent moon happens between the new moon and first quarter moon phases. As the moon slowly waxes, or gradually becomes bigger, it forms a crescent shape.
Lunar Phase: First Quarter Moon
Lunar Cycle: 6 - 7 days
Percentage Illuminated: 50%
The first quarter moon phase is where the moon is a quarter of the way into the lunar cycle. Half of the moon is visible from Earth.
Lunar Phase: Waxing Gibbous Moon
Lunar Cycle: 9 - 13 days
Percentage Illuminated: 51% - 99%
After the first quarter moon phase, the moon continues to wax, reaching the waxing gibbous moon phase. This is the phase between the first quarter moon and full moon phases, and most of the moon is now visible from Earth.
Lunar Phase: Full Moon
Lunar Cycle: 14 - 15 days
Percentage Illuminated: 100%
The full moon phase happens when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun. It is halfway through the lunar cycle, and the moon is fully visible from Earth.
Lunar Phase: Waning Gibbous Moon
Lunar Cycle: 17 - 21 days
Percentage Illuminated: 51% - 99%
After the full moon phase, the moon slowly wanes, or gradually becomes smaller. The waning gibbous moon is between the full moon and last quarter moon phases, and still most of the moon is visible from Earth.
Lunar Phase: Last Quarter Moon (Third Quarter Moon)
Lunar Cycle: 22 - 23 days
Percentage Illuminated: 50%
During this phase, the moon is a three quarters of the way through the lunar cycle. About half of the moon is visible from Earth.
Lunar Phase: Waning Crescent Moon
Lunar Cycle: 25 - 27 days
Percentage Illumination: 1% - 49%
Almost done with the lunar cycle, the moon forms a crescent shape with only a little bit of the moon visible from Earth.