HOW TO INTERPRET THE MOON PHASE ICON?
From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears as circular disk illuminated by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon’s appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part. These phases of the Moon, in the sequence of their occurrence (starting from New Moon), are listed below: For more information on moon phases and lunar months, please use the web link below: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases.html.
