How are the phases of Earth seen from the Moon related to the Moonâs phases seen from Earth?
The phases of Earth as seen from the Moon are directly related to the lunar phases observed from Earth, as they occur in the exact opposite order.12
Because the Moon and Earth are both illuminated by the Sun, their relative positions determine how much of their sunlit sides are visible to an observer on the other body. For example, when the Moon is in its new moon phaseâpositioned between Earth and the Sunâthe side of the Moon facing Earth is in shadow. Conversely, from the perspective of an observer on the Moon at that same time, Earth would appear as a "full Earth," with its illuminated side fully facing the Moon.12
This inverse relationship continues throughout the entire cycle: as the Moon waxes or wanes from Earth's perspective, Earth undergoes the corresponding opposite phase when viewed from the lunar surface.12