api: YAML JSON TOON Database
version: 1.0.0
format: json
dataset:
  slug: phases-of-moon
  title: Phases of the Moon
  description: The primary phases of the lunar cycle.
  summary: "The eight phases of the Moon in order, from new moon through full moon and back, each with a short description of how much of the near side is lit as seen from Earth."
  use_when[2]: You need the names and order of the lunar phases.,You are explaining why the Moon appears to change shape.
  caveats[2]: "A full cycle (new moon to new moon) takes about 29.5 days, the synodic month.","Phases depend on the Moon-Sun-Earth geometry, not on Earth's shadow; the shadow causes eclipses."
  related[3]: solar-system-planets,constellations-zodiac,space-missions-milestones
  category: Astronomy
  category_slug: astronomy
  tags: "astronomy,moon,phases"
  view_count: 0
  entry_count: 8
  fields[2]{section,field,type,example}:
    data,phase,string,New Moon
    data,description,string,Moon is between Earth and Sun; the unlit side f…
data[8]{phase,description}:
  New Moon,Moon is between Earth and Sun; the unlit side faces Earth.
  Waxing Crescent,A small sliver of the near side becomes visible.
  First Quarter,Half of the near side is illuminated.
  Waxing Gibbous,More than half of the near side is illuminated and growing.
  Full Moon,The entire near side is illuminated.
  Waning Gibbous,More than half illuminated but decreasing.
  Third Quarter,Half of the near side is illuminated again.
  Waning Crescent,A shrinking sliver before the new moon.