New Moon –
The illumination of the moon is not visible because it’s facing toward the sun.
Waxing Crescent –
The moon is starting to gain illumination back, but is less than half way illuminated.
First Quarter –
The moon is half way illuminated and is increasing in lamination.
Waxing Gibbous –
The moon is more than half way illuminated but is not fully laminated. Its disc size is increasing.
Full Moon –The moon is fully laminated and facing the earth.
Waning Gibbous –
the moon begins to lose illumination but is still more than half way full.
Last Quarter –
The Moon is half way illuminated and is losing illumination.
Waning Crescent –
The moon is less than half illuminated and is working on becoming a new moon.
There is variety of ways to remember the order of the moons phases. The one that I found easiest was given to me by my high school science teacher. “Waxing builds of the shine, and Wane falls”, seems a little weird but if you think about it, it really makes sense. When the moon is new it waxes its way to becoming fully illuminated, and once it becomes full it wanes out to becoming black.
If you would like more about the science behind the moons rotation and action, I suggest the following site. It really goes into much detail about the moon phases.http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.phtml
