* New Moon: This is the start of the cycle, when the moon is not visible from Earth.
* Waxing Crescent: The moon begins to grow, appearing as a thin sliver of light.
* First Quarter: The moon is half illuminated, appearing as a semi-circle.
* Waxing Gibbous: The moon continues to grow, becoming more than half illuminated.
* Full Moon: The entire moon is visible and illuminated.
* Waning Gibbous: The moon begins to decrease in size, remaining more than half illuminated.
* Last Quarter: The moon is again half illuminated, appearing as a semi-circle.
* Waning Crescent: The moon continues to decrease in size, appearing as a thin sliver of light.
Therefore, the final "half" is the waning gibbous and last quarter phases, and the first "half" is the waxing crescent and first quarter phases.
