Describe the cycles of the moon
The cycles of the moon are its various phases that it goes through over the course of a month. The first phase is the new moon, when the moon is completely invisible from Earth. Next comes the waxing crescent, waxing quarter, first-quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waxing gibbous, and waning gibbous. After the full moon, the moon is in its waning quarter and finally the last stage is the waning crescent. During a new moon, or first quarter, the Moon's illuminated side faces the Earth. As it waxes, the partly-lit side is visible and the amount of illuminated area increases. During the full moon, the Moon is completely illuminated and a total lunar eclipse can occur. As it wanes, the lit side is hidden from view and the amount of illuminated area decreases.
The moon goes through cycles of waxing, waxing, full moon, waning, waning, new moon. This cycle repeats approximately every 27.3 days. It is sometimes referred to as a synodic month, or the time it takes for the same phase of the moon to recur.