Waxing Crescent Moon (first stage)
The Moon travels eastward in the sky, and a few days after the new moon we can see a slight edge, or crescent, of the Moon lit by the Sun. The common term for this phase is "waxing crescent." Waxing means it is growing larger or fuller.
First Quarter Moon
The first quarter moon is the term used to describe a waxing moon that is exactly half-lit. The Moon is now one fourth of the way through its lunar cycle.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
When a larger portion of the moon becomes illuminated, it is called a "gibbous moon."
Full Moon
At the full moon, the Moon's face is completely bright and we see an entire circle in the sky. During this part of the cycle, the full moon rises at almost the very same time the sun is setting.
Waning Gibbous Moon
The light on the Moon begins to wane, or grow thinner, and we once again see the gibbous-shaped moon. In this case, it is referred to as a "waning gibbous."
Third Quarter Moon
The third quarter moon phase is when the Moon is once again half-lit. However, this time the left side of the Moon is illuminated instead of the right as it was at first quarter. The moon is now three fourths of the way through its cycle.
Waning Crescent
The last phase of the lunar cycle is the waning crescent. The Moon appears as a sliver in the sky before it becomes dark again.