1. Rules for Naming and Ordering Moon Phases

2. Step 1 Find the moon between Earth and the Sun. This is always the New Moon. This is a picture of a new moon.

3. Step 2 Always move counterclockwise from the New Moon.

4. 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.)

5. Full Moon

6. 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.

7. Step 5 – Name the lit shape. These are crescents. Waxing Waning

8. These are half or quarter moons. Waxing Waning

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

10. Waxing → Waning

11. It’s all about the angle we view the moon from.