1. New Moon: The Moon is not visible because it's between the Earth and the Sun.
2. Waxing Crescent: The Moon begins to appear as a thin sliver of light, growing larger each day.
3. First Quarter: The Moon appears as a half-circle.
4. Waxing Gibbous: The Moon continues to grow larger, becoming more than half illuminated.
5. Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun.
6. Waning Gibbous: The Moon begins to decrease in size, becoming less than half illuminated.
7. Last Quarter: The Moon again appears as a half-circle, but now the illuminated portion is on the opposite side.
8. Waning Crescent: The Moon continues to shrink, becoming a thin sliver of light before disappearing completely.
To know the exact dates and times of the Moon's phases in a specific month, you can:
* Use a moon phase calendar: Many online calendars and apps provide detailed information about the Moon's phases.
* Consult an astronomy website: Websites like NASA or Time and Date offer accurate moon phase data.
Remember that the Moon's phases are a result of the changing angles at which the Sun's light illuminates the Moon as it orbits the Earth.