There are a variety of ways to observe the Moon, including by watching the various phases. During the night, you can see the entire moon or only the unlit half, depending on which phase you're viewing. The new moon is when the Moon is in its closest point to the Earth, so it is the most visible. Another phase is the waxing crescent moon, which looks like a crescent and grows bigger from day to day. It is visible only in the west. And when the moon is a half-moon, it's called the first quarter moon.
This free application displays a live wallpaper of the moon's phases on your desktop. The graphics are clear and well-designed, so you won't need to change your background to view the app. Moreover, you can also use it to gauge the impact of low tides. And if you're a stargazer, you'll find it useful to use this app to keep up with the changing moon phases.
The Moon changes shape every month, and the four major shapes are named for the phases of the Moon. The full Moon, which is always opposite the Sun, rises at sunset. Because the Moon orbits the Earth, the next full-moon will rise at sunrise the following day. The waning half-moon rises at midnight, while the new moon is seen at dawn. These three phases are the most popular, but it's important to remember that they occur in different places and seasons.
