4. Phases of the Moon

From the next day, the size of the brightest part of the moon reduces and appears to be thinner. The sunlit portion of the moon facing the earth gets smaller in size, resulting in half-moon (last quarter) or less than the full moon (waning gibbous moon). This decreasing phase of the moon is known as the Waning phase.

 

When the moon comes on the side of the Earth nearest to the sun, the sun's light falls on the other side of the moon, which is not visible to the Earth. The side of the moon facing the Earth will be in complete darkness. Hence, the moon is not visible on the fifteenth day, called as the New Moon day. The illuminated portion of the moon increases every day after the new moon.

 

The next day comes the crescent moon, where only a small portion of the moon appears in the sky when lit by the Sun's rays.

 

As the moon moves from its position, its size gets bigger, resulting in a half-moon (first quarter) or more than half- moon (waxing gibbous moon). This increasing phase of the moon is known as the Waxing phase. The moon grows again and turns to a full moon on the fifteenth day.

 

On seeing the Moon, one can easily find its phase.

Waxing means 'growing'. If the right side of the Moon is getting brighter, then it is in the Waxing phase.