Moon Phases

The Moon goes through a cycle as it orbits the Earth. From Earth, we can see the Moon’s phases even though the Moon doesn’t change. The Moon phases are the different stages of the Moon as it orbits Earth. This cycle is known as the Phases of the Moon. As the Moon circles Earth, the amount of light we see changes. These changes in light that we see are known as phases. As the Moon orbits around the Earth, the changing of light is known as waxing and waning. The phases have to do with the relativity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. The phases help us determine what part of the month we are in. There are many phases that occur in the time span of one month. The phases have been classified with these names, new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent.
Although the new moon is the dark side of the moon and the full moon is the lit side of the moon they both cover one half of the Moon. The waxing crescent and the waxing gibbous tell that the new moon is transitioning to a full moon. The first quarter sign that the lunar month has almost reached a halfway point. The waning crescent and the waning gibbous bothe indicate that the moon is changing from full moon to a new moon. Finally, the last quarter shows that it is the last stages of the lunar month.
From Earth, we only see the part of the Moon that reflects the Sun’s light to us. The Moon orbits the Earth, at an average speed of 382,400 kph (237,612.344 mph). At its average speed the Moon’s orbit is around the Earth, is 29.53 days. This is known as a lunar month, when the moon changes from new moon, to another. Since the Moon is revolving around the Earth, we see a different perspective of the lit Moon. Technically the moon always has one half lit, it is just from where we stand is what we see of the lit