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The different shapes of the moon seen from Earth are called lunar phases. These phases include new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, which result from the changing positions of the moon, Earth, and the sun.
The Moon's Phases (or Lunar Phases).
The moon phases are called "phases" because they refer to the different shapes or appearances of the Moon as seen from Earth at different points in its orbit. These phases are a result of the changing relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
The moon has different phases that it passes through, just like we have different phases in our lifetimes.
People see different phases of the moon due to its position relative to the Earth and Sun. As the moon orbits the Earth, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, creating the different phases we see from Earth. This phenomenon is known as lunar phases.