Which phase occurs when the illuminated portion is more than half but not yet full?

Which phase occurs when the illuminated portion is more than half but not yet full?

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

Answer: (B)

As the Moon orbits Earth, the visible illuminated portion changes. When the lit area is more than half but not yet full, the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase. “Waxing” means the illumination is increasing, and “gibbous” describes a shape that is more than half but not completely full. This occurs after the Moon passes the first-quarter point and continues growing toward a full Moon. In contrast, the waxing crescent is less than half illuminated, waning gibbous is more than half illuminated but shrinking toward new Moon, and New Moon has almost no illumination.

As the Moon orbits Earth, the visible illuminated portion changes. When the lit area is more than half but not yet full, the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase. “Waxing” means the illumination is increasing, and “gibbous” describes a shape that is more than half but not completely full. This occurs after the Moon passes the first-quarter point and continues growing toward a full Moon. In contrast, the waxing crescent is less than half illuminated, waning gibbous is more than half illuminated but shrinking toward new Moon, and New Moon has almost no illumination.