1. New Moon: The Moon is not visible as it is between the Earth and the Sun.
2. Waxing Crescent: A thin sliver of the Moon becomes visible, growing in size 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 face of the Moon is illuminated.
6. Waning Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is illuminated, shrinking in size each night.
7. Last Quarter: Half of the Moon is illuminated, appearing as a semicircle (opposite to the First Quarter).
8. Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of the Moon is visible, shrinking in size each night.
These eight phases are a continuous cycle, with the Moon transitioning smoothly from one phase to the next. However, some people might consider the intermediate stages (between the main phases) as separate phases, increasing the total number.
