What changes in shape the moon seems to go through?

The Moon goes through a series of phases as it orbits the Earth, which are primarily influenced by its position relative to the Earth and the Sun. These phases include the New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. During this cycle, the illuminated portion of the Moon visible from Earth changes, creating the appearance of different shapes. This cycle takes approximately 29.5 days to complete, known as a lunar month.