First is the new moon, which occurs when the Moon lies in between Earth and the Sun. During this time, the Moon has risen and set during the day. The side of the Moon that we see on Earth receives no sunlight, so it appears dark.As the Moon revolves, we start to see the edges of the lighted side from Earth.

After the new moon phase is the first crescent moon phase, where the Moon “grows” into a crescent with a tiny portion of the right side of the Moon illuminated. (It looks like a backwards “C”) 

Next is the first quarter moon, where only the right half of the whole Moon appears to be illuminated. This looks like a half circle in the sky. It is referred to as first quarter because it represents a quarter of the time it takes for the entire lunar cycle to occur. The Moon is at a right angle relative to Earth and the Sun. 

A gibbous moon is when the majority of the Moon appears to be illuminated, but not quite all of it. 

Halfway through the lunar cycle is the full moon, when we can see the entire illuminated side of the Moon from Earth. It looks like a big white circle in the sky.

After the full moon, the lunar cycle enters its waning period, when the Moon appears to be “shrinking”. Waning Gibbous Moon: During this phase, the Moon shrinks to waning gibbous (majority but not all appears illuminated). Last Quarter Moon: During the last quarter, the left half of the Moon’s surface appears illuminated. The Moon is at a right angle relative to Earth and the Sun.  Waning Crescent: A sliver of the left side of the Moon is illuminated.