The term 'Lunar Stages' refers to the different PHASES of the moon. The most common PHASES are new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Each phase is characterized by a different shape of the illuminated portion of the moon's surface as seen from Earth. The lunar cycle takes approximately 29.5 days to complete, with each phase lasting for a few days.