Have you ever wondered why the moon changes shape? The moon does not actually change shape at all. Instead, it orbits Earth, and as it orbits, we see varying amounts of sunlight reflected off its surface. These changing views are called the phases of the moon. God designed the moon to orbit Earth in a way that creates this beautiful monthly pattern.

Moon Coloring Sheet

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What Causes the Moon to Change Shape?

Although the moon looks different throughout the month, it is always the same shape. The moon is made of rock and metal and cannot be molded or reshaped. The reason it appears to change is because it does not produce its own light.

Instead, the moon reflects the light of the sun, much like a mirror reflects light. As the moon travels around Earth, the sun is always shining on half of it. From Earth, however, we see different amounts of that sunlit half depending on where the moon is in its orbit.

The moon takes around 28 days to travel around Earth. This curved path is called an orbit. As it moves along that orbit, we sometimes see only a thin sliver of the illuminated side, sometimes half of it, sometimes the entire face of the moon, and sometimes we can’t see it at all. These changing appearances are known as the moon’s phases.

What Are the Phases of the Moon?

The moon’s phases follow a repeating cycle each month.

The cycle begins with the new moon, when the moon appears invisible because the side facing Earth is dark. As the moon continues its orbit, the visible lit portion grows larger. This is called waxing.

About halfway through the cycle comes the full moon, when the entire side facing Earth is illuminated by the sun.

After the full moon, the visible portion begins to shrink. This is called waning. Eventually the cycle returns to the new moon and begins again.

Other names used during the cycle include crescent, gibbous, and quarter. Crescent is when the moon appears as a thin sliver. Gibbous is when most, but not all, of the moon appears. The first and third quarters are when we see what looks like half of the moon. You may be wondering — why call it a quarter if it looks like a half? The First Quarter phase is when the moon has completed one fourth, or one quarter, of its voyage around Earth. The Third Quarter phase is when the moon has completed three-fourths, or three-quarters, of its voyage around the Earth.

Why Did God Design the Moon This Way?

The moon’s changing phases remind us of God’s careful design. In Genesis 1:14, God said the lights in the sky would be used as signs for seasons, days, and years. The moon helps people measure time by marking the passing of months.

The moon also reminds us of an important spiritual truth. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, we are called to reflect God’s light to the world. God is light, and as His light shines on us, we can live in a way that points others to Him.

A Beautiful Reminder Every Night

The next time you look up at the night sky, remember that the moon is not changing shape. Instead, you are seeing different amounts of sunlight reflected from its surface as it travels around Earth. The moon’s steady pattern reminds us that God designed creation with purpose, order, and beauty, and that even its changing phases point us back to our wise Creator.

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Learning about the moon’s phases is made possible by: Award-winning science curriculum by Apologia.

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