Moon Phases Quiz: Name Each Lunar Phase from Photos
Quick lunar cycle quiz: 20 questions with instant results.
Editorial: Review CompletedUpdated Aug 26, 2025
This moon phases quiz helps you identify and name each phase from images, tell waxing from waning, and understand the lunar cycle. For extra practice, try moon phase practice, then broaden your space knowledge with the basic astronomy quiz or stretch further with an astrophysics quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Understand the sequential order of the lunar phases.
- Identify the names and characteristics of each moon phase.
- Analyze the visual changes in the moon's appearance throughout its cycle.
- Apply observational techniques to determine specific moon phases.
- Evaluate quiz responses to reinforce comprehension of lunar cycle concepts.
Name That Moon Phase Cheat Sheet
- 29.5‑Day Moon Phase Cycle - The Moon travels through eight distinct phases - from New Moon to Waning Crescent - in a predictable 29.5‑day rhythm. Watching these stages can feel like following a celestial story that repeats month after month.
- Waxing vs. Waning - "Waxing" means the lit portion of the Moon is growing, while "waning" means it's shrinking. A handy mnemonic is "light starts on the right" for waxing in the Northern Hemisphere.
- DOC/COD Mnemonic - The "DOC" trick helps you identify phases: a D shape is waxing, O is Full Moon, and C is waning. Down under, the pattern flips to COD thanks to the reversed light direction.
- Geometry of Phases - Moon phases arise because of the Moon's position relative to Earth and the Sun. As it orbits, the angle of sunlight changes what we see, creating that dance of light and shadow.
- Gibbous Defined - A gibbous Moon is more than half lit but not quite full, appearing bulging like a full belly. You'll spot it both while the Moon is waxing up and waning down.
- New Moon Explained - During New Moon, the Moon sits between Earth and the Sun, so its lit side faces away from us. That's when it's virtually invisible in our night sky.
- Full Moon Insights - At Full Moon, Earth stands between the Sun and the Moon, bathing the entire near side in sunlight. It's the brightest and most dramatic phase for night‑watching.
- First & Last Quarters - In the First Quarter, half of the Moon's face is lit as it's one-quarter through its orbit. The Last Quarter is three-quarters in, again showing a half‑lit face - perfect for mid‑phase stargazing.
- Lunar Month Recap - The complete set of phases repeats every 29.5 days - called a lunar month - making it a reliable calendar for ancient sailors and modern skywatchers alike.
- Phases, Eclipses & Tides - Understanding Moon phases also explains why eclipses and ocean tides follow specific patterns. It all boils down to gravitational pulls and the Moon's position around Earth.
