Night after night, as we look up,

the moon appears to change shape.

See the phases of the moon

as it wanes and waxes, taking almost a month

to revolve and spin around our Earth. 

The New Moon

The moon's first of 8 phases,

hides between the Earth and sun. 

No light illuminates the moon during phase 1

For us to see on this night.

Waxing Crescent Moon

With just a sliver of light

Phase 2 will amaze

Lighting the dark night!

  First Quarter Moon

Half the moon we will see

Lit up during phase 3!

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Grows and glows even more in Phase 4

Increasing with light every night.

The Full Moon

Big, bright, and round!

As the sun, Earth, and moon

line up in phase 5.

The moon sees full light of the sun.

Before long, it will move on!

Waning Gibbous Moon

Phase 6, less than full,

decreasing with light every night.

 Last Quarter Moon

Shows a half-lit moon

Phase 7 fades away soon!

Waning Crescent Moon

At last! A small sliver is all that remains

 in phase 8 until the new moon,

when again, the lunar cycle will begin!