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What Are the Phases of the Moon?
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Lunar phases
Explore the phases of the Moon and their effectiveness in tracking time
Full moon Waning gibbous moon
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Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd
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Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd
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News •

NASA Progresses Toward Crewed Moon Mission with Spacecraft, Rocket Milestones • May 6, 2025, 9:39 AM ET (NASA (.gov))
Trump NASA budget prioritizes missions on the moon and Mars over research • May 3, 2025, 4:49 AM ET (Le Monde)
Moon to make closest jump over Jupiter for the year in night sky • Apr. 30, 2025, 2:46 AM ET (USA Today)
China prepares for launch of 3-person space station replacement crew • Apr. 24, 2025, 3:44 AM ET (AP)

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Lunar phases
Full moon
Waning gibbous moon
Explore the phases of the Moon and their effectiveness in tracking time
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