Memorizing the Moon Phases

How in the World do we remember the moon phases?  The moon used to be so simple and now its just all complicated!  Why can't we just enjoy the moon from time to time when we remember to look up at it? 

Number one:  It's not too hard to know the phases of the moon.
Number two:  You are required to learn the moon phases.
Number three: You will never regret learning the phases of the moon.
Number four: Your love for space will increase...

Here are some tips and tricks to help you learn....

Here are the “official” 8 Moon Phases in order:

1. New – the new moon is not visible
2. Waxing Crescent – the Moon starts growing
3. First Quarter – the moon looks like half a circle
4. Waxing Gibbous – still growing
5. Full – we see the entire circle of the Moon lit up
6. Waning Gibbous – the Moon starts shrinking
7. Third Quarter – again only half a circle is visible
8. Waning Crescent – the Moon is about to disappear
9. New (again) – the new Moon is not visible 

The basic moon phases are simple:

Waxing = growing light

Waning = shrinking light

Shorten the moon phase names: New moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter, new moon

NCQGF = New, Crescent, Quarter, Gibbous, Full

FGQCN = Full, Gibbous, Quarter, Crescent, New

The Moon Phases happen in a cycle that repeats.

New, wax crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous,

Full, waning gibbous, 3rd quarter, waning crescent,

New (again).

Some people use DOC to help them remember the phases...

If the Moon phase is shaped like the letter D that means it is growing (waxing). If the Moon phase is shaped like the letter C that means it is shrinking (waning). If it’s shaped like the letter O – it is full: in between waxing (D) and waning (C).

You can remember that “light starts on the right” of the waxing crescent, then it grows to full, then shrinks to the crescent where “the only light left is on the left.”

Hopefully the more time you spend thinking about the phases, looking at the moon and processing this timeless pattern of waxing and waning light on a round piece of rock that follows us around seemingly forever...you will begin to memorize the phases and how really simple they are, just like addition and subtraction in math, or football plays, basketball plays or Zumba moves.

Give a few of these tricks a try and may the power of the Moon Phases go with you....

More tips can be found at this link:

https://starinastar.com/moon-phases-names-an-easy-way-to-remember/