The Moon goes through phases as the amount of its lit surface visible from Earth changes over the course of a month; the four main phases are the full moon, crescent moon, quarter moon, and gibbous moon. The lit part of the moon is either waxing, meaning growing larger each night, or waning, meaning shrinking smaller each night.

1. Phases of the Moon

2. The Moon The moon rises in the east and sets in the west From Earth we see different amounts of the Moon’s lit surface The amount seen is called a “phase”

3. Four Basic Shapes FULL CRESCENT QUARTER GIBBOUS Waxing- lit part of the moon is growing Waning- lit part of the moon is shrinking