The moon rises in an easterly direction and sets in a westerly direction, although the direction in which it rises and sets is not exact. The sun also rises in an easterly direction and sets in a westerly direction. The moon rises, on average, about 50 minutes later each day.
The different phases of the moon include new moon, full moon, first quarter, third quarter, waxing and waning crescent, and waxing and waning gibbous. The amount of time required for the moon to go from new moon and back around to new moon is 29.5 days, and this period of time is referred to as the synodic month. Both the moon and Earth rotate and revolve in a counterclockwise direction.
