Full Moon 2019 UK: When is the next Full Moon? Look our for the beautiful Cold Moon

How many phases of the Moon are there?

The Full Moon may be the best-known phase of the lunar cycle, but there are eight distinct stages recognised by astronomers.

Each lunar cycle starts and ends with a New Moon, when the Sun’s light falls on the side of the lunar orb we do not see from Earth.

Effectively, the New Moon disappears for one to two nights as it is only illuminated on its backside.

The eight lunar phases are: the New Moon, the Waxing Crescent Moon, the First Quarter Moon, the Waxing Gibbous Moon, the Full Moon, the Waning Gibbous Moon, the Last Quarter Moon and the Waning Crescent Moon.

source: express.co.uk