»The moon has eight major phases. The moon has eight major phases.

»It goes through its phases about It goes through its phases about every 29 days.every 29 days.

»The moon is always lit up by the sun The moon is always lit up by the sun 50% 50%

»The amount we see varies depending The amount we see varies depending on what phase it’s in.on what phase it’s in.

Key words: Key words: Waxing (growing), Waning Waxing (growing), Waning (shrinking), New moon, Waxing Crescent, (shrinking), New moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter,Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, First Quarter,Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third or Last Quarter, Waning Gibbous, Third or Last Quarter, Waning Crescent.Waning Crescent.

»When the moon is positioned between When the moon is positioned between the sun and the earth. The moons the sun and the earth. The moons lightened side is on the opposite lightened side is on the opposite side we can see. Therefore, we see side we can see. Therefore, we see the dark side, basically nothing at the dark side, basically nothing at all.all.

»In this phases you would see about In this phases you would see about 1/4th of the moon on the right side.1/4th of the moon on the right side.

»About half of the moon is shown. Its About half of the moon is shown. Its between the phases in waxing so it would between the phases in waxing so it would be on the right side.be on the right side.

»Around 3/4 on the right side of the Around 3/4 on the right side of the moon is shown. Most people mistake moon is shown. Most people mistake it for a full moon.it for a full moon.

»When all of the lit side of the When all of the lit side of the moon is shown.moon is shown.

»When almost all of the moon is When almost all of the moon is shown. 3/4 of the moon is visible on shown. 3/4 of the moon is visible on the left side. It looks similar to the left side. It looks similar to the waxing gibbous only on the other the waxing gibbous only on the other side.side.

»When half of the moon is visible on When half of the moon is visible on the left side. Some people mix up the left side. Some people mix up the first quarter and the third the first quarter and the third quarter. The only difference is quarter. The only difference is first quarter is on the right side first quarter is on the right side (in waxing), and third is on the (in waxing), and third is on the left (in waning).left (in waning).

»Only about 1/4th of the moon is Only about 1/4th of the moon is showing. Its visible on the left showing. Its visible on the left side.side.

»When the earth casts a shadow on When the earth casts a shadow on the moon, it's called a lunar the moon, it's called a lunar eclipse, and can only happen during eclipse, and can only happen during the full moon phase.the full moon phase.

»When the moon blocks the sun or a When the moon blocks the sun or a part of it, it's called a solar part of it, it's called a solar eclipse, and it can only happen eclipse, and it can only happen during the new moon phase.during the new moon phase.

“Moon Phases/ Lunar Phases Explained.” MoonConnection.com. 2009. MoonConnection.com. 11 May 2009. <http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml>.

“Eclipses-Space-redOrbit-.” Eclipses. 2009. redOrbit.com. 11 May 2009. <http://www.redorbit.com/space/astronomy/eclipses/>.

“Phases of the Moon: Zoom Astronomy.” The Moon. 2009. EnchantedLearning.com. 11 May 2009. <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/moon/Phases.shtml>.