How Long Is Each Moon Phase?

••• Reva-Steenbergen/iStock/GettyImages

Moon phases represent the names given to points in its orbit around Earth. Each phase lasts for only an instant as the moon constantly moves. To the naked eye, the full moon lasts about three days, but in reality, it is a full moon for just an instant before it begins to wane. The moon takes just under one month -- an average of 29 1/2 days -- to complete its phases.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

As the moon passes gradually and continually through its monthly cycle, each phase lasts only an instant. The Full Moon, for example, is simply a point halfway between waxing gibbous and waning gibbous.

Phases of the Moon

The moon has eight phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent. But it is not as simple as dividing 29 1/2 by eight to find out how long each phase lasts. The fraction by which the moon is illuminated steadily increases or decreases at all times.

Primary and Intermediate Phases

The primary phases of the Moon cycle are the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon and the last quarter. The dates and times of these phrases -- which you can calculate or find on calendars -- change from month to month according to the positions of the Sun and the Moon. Astronomers refer to the crescent and gibbous phases as intermediate phases.

When the Phases Occur

The phases of the Moon are connected to the position of the Moon in relation to the Sun. While the new moon is dictated by the close proximity of the Sun to the Moon, the full moon occurs when they are at opposite positions in the sky. The first and last quarters happen when the Moon has traveled one-and three-quarters way around its orbit.

Facts About Moon Phases

As the phase cycles of the Moon are almost always shorter than a full calendar month, the phase of moon that occurs at the start of the month usually occurs again before the end of the month. As a result, every 2.7 years, the full moon phase occurs twice in the same month. The colloquial term for this phenomenon is the "Blue Moon." Although 2.7 years can hardly be considered an irregular occurrence, this is where the phrase "Once in a blue moon" -- meaning something that happens extremely rarely -- originates. The Islamic culture marks the beginning of the month by the first appearance of the waxing crescent moon. In some cultures, it is a taboo to see the new moon through glass.

Related Articles

How to Find the Moon Phases
What Are the Eight Phases of the Moon in Order?
The Explanation of Phases of the Moon
Why Moon Phases Occur
Definition of Phases of the Moon
Different Moon Phases
The Moon's Effect on the Seasons
How to Calculate Age in Lunar Years
What Is Late Telophase?
What Is Sun Transit & Moon Transit?
How to Calculate the Weeks in a Month
How Is the Moon Classified?
Dark Moon Vs. New Moon
Does an Equinox Happen All Over the Earth at the Same...
Mnemonic Devices for Remembering the Phases of the...
What Covers the Moon at Night
The Effects of Lunar Eclipses
Is the Moon Visible All of the Time?
How to Track the Moon's Path Across the Sky
What Are the Causes of the 4 Seasons on Earth?

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!