A field guide to the Moon
Its phases and its rarer appearances
The eight phases of the Moon as an astronomical plate, from new moon to waning crescent, each with its day in the 29.5-day cycle, plus the rarer sights: supermoon, blood moon, blue moon and earthshine.
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- New Moon Rises and sets with the Sun Day 0 · not visible
- Waxing Crescent Evening sky, in the west Day 4 · 15 % lit
- First Quarter Rises around noon Day 7 · 50 % lit
- Waxing Gibbous Rises in the afternoon Day 11 · 85 % lit
- Full Moon Rises at sunset Day 15 · 100 % lit
- Waning Gibbous Rises in the late evening Day 18 · 85 % lit
- Last Quarter Rises around midnight Day 22 · 50 % lit
- Waning Crescent Morning sky, in the east Day 26 · 15 % lit
- Supermoon Full moon near perigee ~14 % larger · ~30 % brighter
- Blood Moon Moon in Earth's umbra Total lunar eclipse
- Blue Moon About every 2–3 years Second full moon in a month
- Earthshine Sunlight reflected by Earth Best on a thin crescent
Phases as seen from the Northern Hemisphere – south of the equator they appear mirrored.
One lunar cycle (synodic month) lasts about 29.5 days; the gold ring marks its progress.