Introduction The phases of the Moon are a familiar sight in the night sky and can be seen from any part of the world. The Moon is constantly changing, with its phases indicative of its movement in its orbit around the Earth. In this essay, we will explore the lunar phases that repeat in a cycle, the events that cause them to happen, and the impact they have on everything on Earth.

Paragraph 1 The Moon is constantly shifting between different aspects, in what is known as the lunar phases. These phases are the result of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth and its own rotation on its axis. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes, causing the Moon to appear in different shapes or phases in the night sky.

Paragraph 2 A lunar cycle, or lunation, is the amount of time it takes the Moon to cycle through the different phases. This period lasts around 29 days and is divided up into 8 different phases. The first phase is known as the New Moon and is when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, meaning none of the Sun’s light reaches it. This is followed by a Waxing Crescent, First Quarter and Waxing Gibbous.

Paragraph 3 The middle of the cycle is known as the Full Moon, and this is the point in time when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, creating a brightly lit side that faces us. The Full Moon is the brightest phase of the Moon and can have effects on animals, plants and the ocean through the tides. This section of the cycle is followed by the Waning Gibbous, the Third Quarter and Waning Crescent, finally ending back at the New Moon phase, where the cycle begins again.

Paragraph 4 In addition to its effects on the seas, the Moon’s phases also influence its own gravitational pull on the Earth. This effect is noticeable as gravitational pulls from the Sun and the Moon cause the seas to swell and create the tides. The Moon’s phases also influence the amount of light the nights have, with a waxing Moon providing a brighter night than the other phases, and the Full Moon the brightest of them all.

Conclusion To summarise, the Moon is constantly shifting between different aspects, in what is known as the lunar phases. These phases are the result of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth and its own rotation on its axis. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes, creating a cycle of 8 phases that are easily visible in the night sky. Its phases can have an impact on the tides and the amount of light it reflects in the night, making it an important sight in our night skies.