At first , the moon is invisible , because it is a new moon . When the Sun and Moon are aligned on the same side of the Earth the Moon is `` new '' , and the side of the Moon visible from Earth is not illuminated by the Sun . As the Moon waxes ( the amount of illuminated surface as seen from Earth is increasing ) , the lunar phases progress from new moon , crescent moon , first-quarter moon , gibbous moon and full moon phases , before returning through the gibbous moon , third-quarter ( or last quarter ) moon , crescent moon and new moon phases .