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:
    - You need the names and order of the lunar phases.
    - You are explaining why the Moon appears to change shape.
  caveats:
    - 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:
    - solar-system-planets
    - constellations-zodiac
    - space-missions-milestones
  category: Astronomy
  category_slug: astronomy
  tags: astronomy,moon,phases
  view_count: 0
  entry_count: 8
  fields:
    - section: data
      field: phase
      type: string
      example: New Moon
    - section: data
      field: description
      type: string
      example: Moon is between Earth and Sun; the unlit side f…
data:
  - phase: New Moon
    description: Moon is between Earth and Sun; the unlit side faces Earth.
  - phase: Waxing Crescent
    description: A small sliver of the near side becomes visible.
  - phase: First Quarter
    description: Half of the near side is illuminated.
  - phase: Waxing Gibbous
    description: More than half of the near side is illuminated and growing.
  - phase: Full Moon
    description: The entire near side is illuminated.
  - phase: Waning Gibbous
    description: More than half illuminated but decreasing.
  - phase: Third Quarter
    description: Half of the near side is illuminated again.
  - phase: Waning Crescent
    description: A shrinking sliver before the new moon.