Phases of the Moon | Moon Phases 2022

Nearly, half of the surface of the moon is illuminated by the sunlight. But somehow, the amount of light that we see from our point of view on earth varies every day, and this is referred as “Moon Phases” or “Phases of the Moon.” It is also called as “Lunar Phases.” As per the western culture, the lunar month is divided into four Primary and four intermediate moon phases. Each phase repeats itself on every 29.5 days. The four Primary phases of the moon are New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon and Last Quarter Moon. The four intermediate phases of the moon are Waxing Crescent Moon, Waxing Gibbous Moon, Waning Gibbous Moon and Waning Crescent Moon.

Phases of the Moon

New Moon

New Moon is the first primary moon phase, and it occurs when the Sun and Moon are aligned in the way that the Sun and Earth are on opposite sides of the moon. Simply, the new moon occurs when the Moon is directly between the Sun and Earth. We cannot see the new moon from the earth since the dark side of the Moon only faces the Earth. If the New Moon is close to the Lunar nodes of its path, it will cause Solar Eclipse.

Waxing Crescent Moon

Waxing Crescent Moon is the first intermediate phases of the moon, and it is the moment when the Moon looks like the crescent and when the crescent size increases from one day to the next, and it will be seen only in the west.

First Quarter Moon

The first quarter moon or half moon (as we can see precisely 50% of the moon) is the second primary moon phase, and it occurs when half of the lit portion of the Moon is visible after the waxing crescent phase. It comes exactly a week after the new moon.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Waxing Gibbous Moon is the second phase among the intermediate phases of the moon, and it occurs when more than half of the lit portion of the Moon is visible and when the shape increases from one day to the next.

Full Moon

Full Moon is the third primary moon phase, and at this time, we can see the entire portion of the moon. It occurs only when the Moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. The lunar eclipse occurs only on the full moon.

Waning Gibbous Moon

It is the third phase among the intermediate phases of the moon, and it occurs when more than half of the lit portion of the Moon is visible and when the shape decreases from one day to the next. The phase occurs between the full moon and third quarter phase.

Last Quarter Moon

The Last Quarter Moon is the final primary moon phase, and it occurs when half the portion of the Moon is visible after the waning gibbous phase.

Waning Crescent Moon

It is the last intermediate phases of the moon, and it represents the time when the moon like a crescent and the crescent size decreases from one day to the next.

Click here to see the 2018 India Calendar

The phases of the moon will vary one month to another month. The Phases of the Moon for the year 2018 are listed below.

(Note: The Timings mentioned in the below table are of Indian Standard Timings).