Is the moon waxing or waning as it goes from third quarter to new moon?

Is the moon waxing or waning as it goes from third quarter to new moon?

• A. Waxing
• B. Waning
• C. Full
• D. New Moon

Answer: (B)

The Moon’s phase shows how much of its sunlit side we can see, and that changes as it orbits Earth. Waxing means the lit portion is growing, waning means it’s shrinking. From third quarter toward new moon, the illuminated part of the Moon is getting smaller, so it is waning. In this stretch you’d see a waning crescent before it finally becomes new Moon, when the near side is largely dark. The other options don’t fit: full Moon is when the entire near side is lit, and new Moon is the moment when the near side isn’t illuminated; waxing would imply the opposite change in illumination.

The Moon’s phase shows how much of its sunlit side we can see, and that changes as it orbits Earth. Waxing means the lit portion is growing, waning means it’s shrinking. From third quarter toward new moon, the illuminated part of the Moon is getting smaller, so it is waning. In this stretch you’d see a waning crescent before it finally becomes new Moon, when the near side is largely dark. The other options don’t fit: full Moon is when the entire near side is lit, and new Moon is the moment when the near side isn’t illuminated; waxing would imply the opposite change in illumination.