Drawing & Labeling the Phases of the Moon in Order

Preparation

• On a sheet of paper, draw eight circles in a row with a pencil. These will be used to illustrate the eight lunar stages in order from left to right. The circles should be uniform but can be any size. If it is difficult to draw accurate circles by hand, trace around the edge of a circular object, like a small drinking glass or even a quarter.

New Moon

• A new moon is the first lunar stage. None of the moon's surface is illuminated when viewed from Earth. It occurs when the moon is between Earth and the sun. Lightly fill in the first circle with a pencil so the whole surface is dark. This is a new moon.

Waxing Crescent

• A waxing crescent moon is the second stage. In this phase, the illuminated fraction is increasing and looks like the end of a fingernail. In the second circle, draw a curved line from the top of the circle to the bottom. Curve it toward the right so the circle is divided into sections of about 3/4 on the left and 1/4 on the right. Lightly darken the left portion.

First Quarter

• The first quarter is the third lunar stage. It is also called a half moon because one half of the surface of the moon is illuminated and one half is dark. In the third circle, draw a line straight down the middle from the top of the circle to the bottom, dividing it evenly in half. Lightly shade the left half of the circle.

Waxing Gibbous

• The waxing gibbous moon is the fourth stage. The moon's surface is about 3/4 illuminated in this phase, with a sliver of dark on the left side. In the fourth circle, draw a curved line from the top of the circle to the bottom. Curve it toward the left, so the circle is divided into sections of about 1/4 on the left and 3/4 on the right. Lightly darken the left portion.

Full Moon

• During the full moon, all of the moon's surface is illuminated. The sunlit portion of the moon is fully facing the Earth and the shadowed side is facing away. The full moon is the fifth stage. Do not shade in any part of the fifth circle to represent the full moon.

Waning Gibbous

• The waning gibbous moon is the sixth stage. As with the waxing gibbous moon, 3/4 of the surface is illuminated. However, the image is flipped, with the dark crescent now on the right side. In the sixth circle, draw a curved line in the same manner as with the waxing crescent diagram -- 3/4 on the left and 1/4 on the right. Lightly darken the right quarter portion.

Last Quarter

• The last quarter, also called the third quarter, is the seventh lunar stage. Like the first quarter, it is also called a half moon because one half of the visible surface is illuminated; although it is the opposite half. In the seventh circle, draw a line directly from the top of the circle to the bottom, dividing the circle in half. Shade in the right half of the circle.

Waning Crescent

• In stage eight, called the waning crescent, less than one half of the surface is illuminated. Only a sliver on the left side of the moon is lit. In the eighth circle, draw a curved line like that in the waxing gibbous, so the surface is divided into sections of about 1/4 on the left and 3/4 on the right. Darken the right portion.