What phase follows the Full Moon?

What phase follows the Full Moon?

• A. Waxing Crescent
• B. Third Quarter
• C. Waning Gibbous
• D. New Moon

Answer: (C)

The phase that comes after the Full Moon is Waning Gibbous. After a Full Moon, the visible illuminated portion of the Moon starts shrinking as it moves toward the New Moon, so it’s waning. “Wan­ing” means decreasing illumination, and “gibbous” means more than half of the Moon is lit, though not fully lit. This phase sits between the Full Moon and the Third Quarter, lasting about a week before half of the Moon is illuminated again at Third Quarter. For context, the sequence around this part of the cycle goes Full Moon → Waning Gibbous → Third Quarter → Waning Crescent → New Moon. The other options correspond to phases earlier or later in the cycle.

The phase that comes after the Full Moon is Waning Gibbous. After a Full Moon, the visible illuminated portion of the Moon starts shrinking as it moves toward the New Moon, so it’s waning. “Wan­ing” means decreasing illumination, and “gibbous” means more than half of the Moon is lit, though not fully lit. This phase sits between the Full Moon and the Third Quarter, lasting about a week before half of the Moon is illuminated again at Third Quarter. For context, the sequence around this part of the cycle goes Full Moon → Waning Gibbous → Third Quarter → Waning Crescent → New Moon. The other options correspond to phases earlier or later in the cycle.