Moon Phases Poster — Dark Edition | Flat Illustration Print

This moon phases poster maps all nine steps of the 29.5-day synodic cycle — New Moon through Full Moon and back again — across a deep midnight navy field scattered with white star dots. Nine phases. One 3×3 grid. Each illustration rendered in bold flat color with accurate terminator shadow geometry, labeled in caps serif so the science holds up as hard as the aesthetic does. Kurzgesagt-flat meets mid-century modern: precise enough for the astronomy nerd, striking enough for the celestial-aesthetic collector. 18×24 inches on 189 g/m² enhanced matte paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many moon phases are there?

Eight named phases make up the 29.5-day synodic cycle: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. This poster shows all eight, plus a closing New Moon panel to complete the cycle — nine illustrations total in a 3×3 grid.

What's the difference between waxing and waning?

Waxing means the illuminated portion of the Moon's visible face is growing — from the thin sliver of Waxing Crescent toward the fully lit Full Moon. Waning means that illuminated fraction is shrinking — from Waning Gibbous back down to the dark of the New Moon. The shadow rendering on each phase in this poster reflects that geometry accurately.

How long is a lunar cycle?

The synodic lunar month — measured from one New Moon to the next — is 29.5 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, to be precise). That's the cycle this poster illustrates: the complete journey of the Moon through its phases as seen from Earth, driven by the changing angle between the Moon, Earth, and Sun.

Product Specs

• Enhanced Matte Paper Poster, 18×24 inches (portrait)
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Finish: Enhanced matte — deep color saturation, zero glare
• Print process: Archival-quality inkjet
• Design style: Flat illustration — midnight navy background, white star field, bold flat-color phase illustrations
• Content: 9 moon phases in a 3×3 grid, caps serif labels, accurate shadow rendering
• Ships rolled in a protective tube
• Frame not included — fits standard 18×24 frames