Moon Phase Glossary

Cresent moon: phase of the moon between new and 1st quarter and 3rd and new where less than half of the illuminated surface of the moon is visible.

Full moon: when the entire lighted half of the moon faces the Earth.

Gibbous moon: phase of the moon from 1st quarter to full and from full to 3rd quarter where more than half of the illuminated surface of the moon is visible.

New moon: when the entire lighted half of the moon faces directly away from Earth.

Phases: the daily change in the moon's appearance from Earth.

Quarter moon: phase of the moon where exactly half of the illuminated surface of the moon is visble.

Waning: the decreasing of the moon's visible illuminated surface, from full moon to new moon.

Waxing: the increasing of the moon's visible illuminated surface, from new moon to full moon.