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MOON PHASES
Here is what the Moon Phases look like and a brief discription.
Moon phases is explained simply as the amount of the moon we can see. We have all noticed this goes through phases. This phase is a cyclic period that repeats itself once every 29.5 days.
Waxing vs. Waning
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NEW MOON
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Moon is not visible (except during solar eclipse) as illuminated side is facing away from earth.
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WAXING CRESCENT
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Moon is less than half illuminated and illumination is increasing.
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FIRST QUARTER
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Half of the Moon appears to be illuminated and illumination is increasing.
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WAXING GIBBOUS
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Moon is more than half illuminated and illumination is increasing.
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FULL MOON
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Moon is fully illuminated and facing earth.
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WANING GIBBOUS
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Moon is more than half illuminated and illumination is decreasing.
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LAST QUARTER
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Half of the Moon appears to be illuminated and illumination is decreasing.
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WANING CRESCENT
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Moon is less than half illuminated and illumination is decreasing.
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What about Blue Moon? The cycle phase is 29.5 days which is less than most calendar months (February), therefore it is not often that you have two Full Moons within one month. When two Full Moons do occur in the same month the second is called a Blue Moon and this only happens approximately every 2.7 years (or once in a Blue Moon).
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