There are not 29 moon phases! The lunar cycle has approximately 29.5 days which is where the idea of 29 phases comes from. However, the moon actually goes through 8 distinct phases that occur over the course of a lunar month. These phases are:

1. New Moon: The moon is not visible from Earth.

2. Waxing Crescent: A sliver of the moon becomes visible, growing larger each night.

3. First Quarter: Half of the moon is illuminated, appearing as a semicircle.

4. Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon is illuminated, growing larger each night.

5. Full Moon: The entire moon is illuminated.

6. Waning Gibbous: The illuminated portion of the moon starts to decrease, getting smaller each night.

7. Last Quarter: Half of the moon is illuminated, appearing as a semicircle.

8. Waning Crescent: A sliver of the moon remains illuminated, getting smaller each night.

These eight phases are the most commonly recognized and described.