diff --git a/commands.lua b/commands.lua
index cc0c785..c4b7020 100644
--- a/commands.lua
+++ b/commands.lua
@@ -28,4 +28,22 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("set_moonphase", {
 			end
 		end
 	end
+})
+
+minetest.register_chatcommand("set_moonstyle", {
+	params = "<style>",
+	description = "Set your moon's texture style to the given preset",
+	func = function(playername, param)
+		if param == nil or param == "" then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(playername, "Provide a texture style. Possible styles are classic or realistic")
+		else
+			local player = minetest.get_player_by_name(playername)
+			local change = moon_phases.set_style(player, param)
+			if change then
+				minetest.chat_send_player(playername, "Moon texture changed successfully")
+			else
+				minetest.chat_send_player(playername, "Invalid argument. Provide a valid preset.")
+			end
+		end
+	end
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 598a6c3..9cf8f95 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -16,22 +16,19 @@ if not state:contains("day") then
 	})
 end
 
--- retrieve and parse mod configuration
-local function get_cycle_config()
-	local config = minetest.settings:get("moon_phases_cycle") or DEFAULT_LENGTH
-	config = math.floor(tonumber(config))
-	if (not config) or config < 0 then
-		minetest.log("warning", "[Moon Phases] Invalid cycle configuration")
-		return DEFAULT_LENGTH
-	end
-	return config
-end
+-- retrieve mod configuration
+local PHASE_LENGTH = minetest.settings:get("moon_phases_cycle") or DEFAULT_LENGTH
+local TEXTURE_STYLE = minetest.settings:get("moon_phases_style") or DEFAULT_STYLE
 
-local PHASE_LENGTH = get_cycle_config()
-
--- set the moon texture of a player to the given texture
-local function set_texture(player, texture)
+-- set the moon texture of a player to the given phase
+local function set_texture(player, phase)
 	local sl = {}
+	local meta_data = player:get_meta()
+	local style = meta_data:get_string("moon_phases:texture_style")
+	if style ~= "classic" and style ~= "realistic" then
+		style = TEXTURE_STYLE
+	end
+	local texture = "moon_" .. phase .. "_" .. style .. ".png"
 	sl.name = "moon_phases:custom"
 	sl.moon_data = {
 		visible = true,
@@ -49,7 +46,7 @@ end
 local function update_textures()
 	local phase = state:get_int("phase")
 	for _, player in ipairs(minetest.get_connected_players()) do
-		set_texture(player, "moon_" .. phase .. ".png")
+		set_texture(player, phase)
 	end
 end
 
@@ -89,12 +86,23 @@ function moon_phases.set_phase(phase)
 	return true
 end
 
+-- set the moon's texture style for the given player
+function moon_phases.set_style(player, style)
+	if style ~= "classic" and style ~= "realistic" then
+		return false
+	end
+	local meta_data = player:get_meta()
+	meta_data:set_string("moon_phases:texture_style", style)
+	set_texture(player, state:get_int("phase"))
+	return true
+end
+
 -- set the moon texture of newly joined player
 minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
 	local phase = state:get_int("phase")
 	-- phase might not have been set at server start
 	if phase < 1 then phase = 1 end
-	set_texture(player, "moon_" .. phase .. ".png")
+	set_texture(player, phase)
 end)
 
 -- check for day changes and call handlers
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 8a40347..5272e6e 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-moon_phases_cycle (Change moon phase every X days) int 4
\ No newline at end of file
+moon_phases_cycle (Change moon phase every X days) int 4
+moon_phases_style (Choose a default texture style) enum classic classic,realistic
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/textures/moon_1_classic.png b/textures/moon_1_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fd3f1b
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_1_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_1.png b/textures/moon_1_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_1.png
rename to textures/moon_1_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_2_classic.png b/textures/moon_2_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8107343
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_2_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_2.png b/textures/moon_2_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_2.png
rename to textures/moon_2_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_3_classic.png b/textures/moon_3_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e38175e
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_3_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_3.png b/textures/moon_3_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_3.png
rename to textures/moon_3_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_4_classic.png b/textures/moon_4_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d674eee
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_4_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_4.png b/textures/moon_4_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_4.png
rename to textures/moon_4_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_5_classic.png b/textures/moon_5_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4536a3a
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_5_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_5.png b/textures/moon_5_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_5.png
rename to textures/moon_5_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_6_classic.png b/textures/moon_6_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42c35d8
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_6_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_6.png b/textures/moon_6_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_6.png
rename to textures/moon_6_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_7_classic.png b/textures/moon_7_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14a3abe
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_7_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_7.png b/textures/moon_7_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_7.png
rename to textures/moon_7_realistic.png
diff --git a/textures/moon_8_classic.png b/textures/moon_8_classic.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d7beb8
Binary files /dev/null and b/textures/moon_8_classic.png differ
diff --git a/textures/moon_8.png b/textures/moon_8_realistic.png
similarity index 100%
rename from textures/moon_8.png
rename to textures/moon_8_realistic.png