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I can describe the phases of the moon to you, and you can find numerous diagrams online that illustrate these phases.

The phases of the moon are a result of its position relative to the Earth and the Sun. The moon orbits around the Earth, and as it does so, different portions of its illuminated side become visible to us on Earth.

  1. New Moon: In this phase, the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, and the side of the moon facing Earth is not illuminated. The moon appears completely dark.

  2. Waxing Crescent: As the moon moves in its orbit, a small portion of the illuminated side becomes visible from Earth. This phase is called the waxing crescent. The crescent shape is seen in the western sky just after sunset.

  3. First Quarter: At this phase, half of the moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth. It appears as a half-circle or a "D" shape. The term "first quarter" can be a bit misleading, as it refers to the moon being one quarter of the way through its lunar cycle, not to its appearance.

  4. Waxing Gibbous: Following the first quarter, the illuminated portion of the moon continues to grow. In the waxing gibbous phase, more than half but less than the full moon is visible. The moon appears as a bulging shape, getting closer to being completely round.

  5. Full Moon: The full moon occurs when the Earth is between the moon and the Sun, with the moon's entire illuminated side facing Earth. The moon appears as a complete circle and is fully illuminated.

  6. Waning Gibbous: After the full moon, the illuminated portion begins to decrease. In the waning gibbous phase, more than half but less than the full moon is still visible, but it is shrinking in size.

  7. Third Quarter: Half of the moon's illuminated side is visible again, but this time, it is the opposite side compared to the first quarter. It appears as a half-circle or a "C" shape.

  8. Waning Crescent: As the moon approaches the new moon phase, only a small, diminishing crescent of the illuminated side is visible. It appears in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

The cycle then repeats with a new moon, starting the sequence again.

Remember, you can easily find diagrams and images online that provide a visual representation of the moon's phases to supplement your understanding.

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