Moon Phases

Moon Phases + – + – + – + – +
	name	amount illuminated	increasing / decreasing
	New Moon	none	unilluminated side faces the earth.
	Waxing Crescent	less than half	increasing
	First Quarter	half	increasing
	Waxing Gibbous	between half and full	increasing
	Full Moon	all	illuminated side faces the earth.
	Waning Gibbous	between half and full	decreasing
	Last Quarter	half	decreasing
	Waning Cresent	less than half	decreasing

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Notes	The moon passes between the earth and the sun approximately every 29½ days, at which point there is a new moon.
Honey Moon	The June full moon is called the Mead or Honey Moon. Traditionally, a honey drink was taken after wedding ceremonies held on the Summer Solstice. This is the derivation of the term honeymoon.
Harvest Moon	The moon at and about the period of fullness that is nearest to the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon.
Hunter’s Moon	The first full moon after the Harvest Moon is called the Hunter’s Moon (also known as Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon).
Blue Moon	There are occasionally two full moons in one month. The second moon of the month is called a blue moon.
Dark Moon	When two new moons occur in a month, the second is called a dark moon.