lunar cycles

Lunar cycles refer to the Moon’s changing appearance as seen from Earth over approximately 29.5 days. This cycle begins with the New Moon, when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun and not visible. It then progresses through the waxing phases—waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous—leading to the Full Moon, when the entire face of the Moon is illuminated. Afterwards, it moves through the waning phases—waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent—before returning to the New Moon. These phases result from observing the varying angles of sunlight illuminating the Moon’s surface as it orbits Earth.