Which Moon phase shows increasing illumination after a new Moon?

Which Moon phase shows increasing illumination after a new Moon?

• A. Waning Crescent
• B. Waning Gibbous
• C. Full Moon
• D. Waxing

Answer: (D)

Illumination of the Moon as seen from Earth changes in a regular cycle. After a new Moon, the sunlit portion begins to grow, so we observe more of the lit side each day. That growing phase is called waxing. It progresses from waxing crescent toward first quarter and waxing gibbous, up to a full Moon. Waning describes the shrinking illumination after the full Moon, so it doesn’t fit this time sequence. The term that matches increasing illumination after a new Moon is waxing.

Illumination of the Moon as seen from Earth changes in a regular cycle. After a new Moon, the sunlit portion begins to grow, so we observe more of the lit side each day. That growing phase is called waxing. It progresses from waxing crescent toward first quarter and waxing gibbous, up to a full Moon. Waning describes the shrinking illumination after the full Moon, so it doesn’t fit this time sequence. The term that matches increasing illumination after a new Moon is waxing.