What is a New Moon?
During the period in the Moon’s cycle when it appears totally dark, the Moon is called a New Moon.
What are phases of the Moon?
The phases of the Moon refer to the appearance of the Moon when only a part of the Moon’s circle appears to be bright. Hence, the Moon exhibits phases between New Moon Full Moon. Such Moon phases can be described as Crescent Moon Half Moon etc. For example, at the half Moon phase, half the circle of the Moon appears to be bright.
What is the change in brightness from Half Moon to Full Moon?
The Full Moon is nine times brighter than the Half Moon.
What is waxing and waning of the Moon?
Waxing refers to the cyclic apparent enlarging of the bright portion of the Moon followed by waning which refers to the cyclic apparent decreasing of the bright portion of the Moon.
What is a crescent?
Crescent refers to the periods of appearance of a small bright portion of the Moon, called waning crescent and waxing crescent in the waning and waxing phases respectively.
When is the Moon said to be gibbous?
Gibbous refers to the periods of appearance of a small dark portion of the Moon, called waxing phases gibbous and waning gibbous in the waxing and waning phases respectively.