The Phases of the Moon
There are 8 main phases of the moon.
🌑 New Moon
The Moon is between Earth and the Sun, so the illuminated side faces away from us, and the Moon is not visible.
Meaning: “New” marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, historically seen as a fresh start or new month.
🌒 Waxing Crescent
A small curved sliver of light becomes visible as the Moon moves away from the Sun. The illuminated portion is increasing.
Meaning: “Waxing” means growing, and “crescent” refers to the thin, curved shape.
🌓 First Quarter
Half of the Moon appears lit, even though it’s only one-quarter of the way through its orbit around Earth.
Meaning: “First quarter” indicates the Moon has completed the first quarter of its cycle.
🌔 Waxing Gibbous
More than half of the Moon is illuminated, and the bright portion continues to grow toward full.
Meaning: “Waxing” means increasing, and “gibbous” means bulging or swollen.
🌕 Full Moon
Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, so the entire visible side of the Moon is fully illuminated.
Meaning: “Full” represents complete illumination; historically important for calendars, festivals, and nighttime visibility.
🌖 Waning Gibbous
After the full Moon, the illuminated portion begins to decrease, though more than half is still visible.
Meaning: “Waning” means shrinking, and “gibbous” refers to the still-rounded shape.
🌗 Last (Third) Quarter
Half of the Moon is visible again, but now the opposite side is illuminated compared to the first quarter.
Meaning: Called the “last” or “third” quarter because the Moon is about three-quarters through its cycle.
🌘 Waning Crescent
Only a thin crescent remains as the Moon approaches the end of its cycle and returns to new Moon.
Meaning: “Waning” means decreasing, and “crescent” describes the narrow curved shape.
Why Do Moon Phases Occur?
Moon phases occur due to the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different portions of its sunlit half.
How Long Is a Lunar Cycle?
A full lunar cycle (called a synodic month) lasts approximately 29.5 days. This cycle repeats continuously, creating predictable moon phases each month.
How is the Moon Phase Calculated?
To find the phase for a specific date, astronomers calculate the Moon’s age in days since the last New Moon, then map that age to one of the eight phases:
| Moon Age (Days) | Phase |
| 0 – 1.85 | New Moon 🌑 |
| 1.85 – 7.38 | Waxing Crescent 🌒 |
| 7.38 – 9.22 | First Quarter 🌓 |
| 9.22 – 14.77 | Waxing Gibbous 🌔 |
| 14.77 – 16.61 | Full Moon 🌕 |
| 16.61 – 22.15 | Waning Gibbous 🌖 |
| 22.15 – 23.99 | Last Quarter 🌗 |
| 23.99 – 29.53 | Waning Crescent 🌘 |
All 8 Moon Phase Emojis (Copy & Paste)
| Phase Name | Emoji | Unicode |
| New Moon | 🌑 | U+1F311 |
| Waxing Crescent | 🌒 | U+1F312 |
| First Quarter | 🌓 | U+1F313 |
| Waxing Gibbous | 🌔 | U+1F314 |
| Full Moon | 🌕 | U+1F315 |
| Waning Gibbous | 🌖 | U+1F316 |
| Last Quarter | 🌗 | U+1F317 |
| Waning Crescent | 🌘 | U+1F318 |
Unicode crescent symbols (non-emoji)
| Symbol | Unicode | Name |
| ☽ | U+263D | First Quarter Moon Symbol |
| ☾ | U+263E | Last Quarter Moon Symbol |
Moon Emoji with Faces
| Name | Emoji | Unicode |
| New Moon with Face | 🌚 | U+1F31A |
| First Quarter Moon with Face | 🌛 | U+1F31B |
| Last Quarter Moon with Face | 🌜 | U+1F31C |
| Full Moon with Face | 🌝 | U+1F31D |