Rules for Naming and Ordering Moon Phases

Step 1

• Find the moon between Earth and the Sun.• This is always the New Moon.

This is a picture of a new moon.

Step 2

• Always move counterclockwise from the New Moon.

Step 3• Light begins on the right.• These are the waxing moons. (The lit part of moon gets

bigger just like candles get bigger as they are waxed.)

Full Moon

Step 4

• If the right is NOT lit, these are waning moons.

• To wane means to decrease gradually in size, amount, intensity, or degree; to decline.

• Example: Absence did not make her heart grow fonder. Instead, her love waned.

• Waning occurs from right to left just as waxing occurred from right to left.

Step 5 – Name the lit shape.

These are crescents.

Waxing Waning

These are half or quarter moons.

Waxing Waning

These are gibbous moons.Gibbous means curved on both sides.

Waxing Waning

Waxing → Waning

It’s all about the angle we

view the moon from.