What is meant by the phases of the Moon ?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Text Solution:

1. **Understanding the Moon's Appearance**: The Moon appears to change shape when viewed from Earth. This is a common observation that many people make.

2. **Observation of Different Shapes**: As we look at the Moon over time, we notice that it can look like a full circle, a half-circle, or even a thin crescent. These different shapes are what we refer to as the "phases" of the Moon.

3. **Definition of Phases of the Moon**: The phases of the Moon are defined as the different shapes of the portion of the Moon that can be seen from Earth. This is caused by the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

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