The lunar phase or Moon phase is the appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon for an observer from the earth. This is a complete list of all the Moon phases in year 2023. This lunar list would be highly useful for Moon watchers. It gives the moon phases, the dates and the exact timings of the occurrence. This would be a valuable source of information and guide to moon phases.
The different Moon phases are:
New Moon: When the Moon is in the same direction as the Sun, its illuminated half would be facing away from the Earth, and therefore the part that faces us is all dark, this we call the new moon. During the New Moon, the Moon and the Sun rise and set at the same time.
Waxing Crescent Moon: As the Moon moves around the Earth, we would be able see more of the illuminated half, and we say the Moon is waxing. The Moon seems to growsas days go by. This phase is called the crescent moon.
Quarter Moon: A week after the New moon, when the Moon has completed about a quarter of its turn around the Earth, we can see half of the illuminated part; that is, a quarter of the Moon. This is the first quarter Moon.
Waxing Gibbous Moon: During the next week, we keep seeing more and more of the illuminated part of the Moon, and it is now called waxing gibbous Moon.
Full Moon: Two weeks after the new moon, the moon is now halfway through its revolution, and now the illuminated half coincides with the one facing the Earth, so that we can see a full disk: we have a full moon. The Moon and the Sun rise and set at the same time. If the Moon happens to align exactly with the Earth and Sun, then we get a lunar eclipse.
Waning Gibbous Moon: From now on, until it becomes new again, the illuminated part of the Moon that we can see decreases, and we say it's waning. The first week after full, it is called waning gibbous.
Last Quarter Moon: Three weeks after New Moon, we again see half of the illuminated part of the Moon. This is called the last quarter Moon.
Waning Crescent Moon: During the fourth week of the Moon's cycle, the Moon is reduced to a thin disc, called the waning crescent.
