Phases of the Moon
Free printable phases of the Moon diagram — all eight phases in order, from new moon to waning crescent, each labeled with the correct lit side. Download a high-resolution PDF or PNG for Letter paper.
The eight phases of the Moon
As the Moon orbits the Earth, the amount of its sunlit side that we can see changes in a repeating cycle of eight phases, about once a month. Here is what happens at each labeled part of the diagram:
| Phase | What it does |
|---|---|
| New Moon | The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, so the side facing us is dark and the Moon is almost invisible. |
| Waxing Crescent | A thin sliver of light appears on the right side and grows each night. "Waxing" means growing. |
| First Quarter | The right half of the Moon is lit, so it looks like a half-circle. |
| Waxing Gibbous | More than half is lit and still growing, with only a small dark sliver left. |
| Full Moon | The whole face of the Moon is lit. The Earth is now between the Sun and the Moon. |
| Waning Gibbous | The lit part begins to shrink from the right. "Waning" means shrinking. |
| Third Quarter | The left half of the Moon is lit — the opposite of the first quarter. |
| Waning Crescent | Only a thin sliver of light is left on the left side before the cycle begins again. |
Companion worksheet
A free fill-in worksheet with an answer key, built from the labels above — students match each phase to its description, then answer a couple of short questions. Great for a quick check after using the diagram.
How to print
Choose Download PDF for a ready-to-print file that fits US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape, or Download PNG for the high-resolution image.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 8 phases of the Moon in order?
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.
What do waxing and waning mean?
Waxing means the lit part is growing (before the full moon); waning means it is shrinking (after the full moon).
What paper size should I print this on?
The diagram is sized for standard US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape orientation. Use "Download PDF" for a print-ready file that fits the page automatically.