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∙ 12y agowaning phases
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∙ 12y agoThe term used to describe the decrease in the visible portion of the moon is "waning." This occurs as the moon transitions from a full moon to a new moon phase.
It sounds like the moon is currently waxing gibbous, with more than a quarter but less than half of the moon visible. As it progresses towards the third quarter phase, the visible portion will continue to decrease until only half of the moon is visible.
When the illuminated portion is decreasing from one night to the next, the moon is in its 'waning' phases.
Getting larger is WAXING. Getting smaller is WANING..
The waning of the moon refers to the period when the visible portion of the moon's illuminated side is decreasing, leading up to the new moon phase. This occurs as the moon is moving in its orbit around the Earth and is receiving less sunlight. The waning moon is associated with a gradual decrease in illumination until it reaches the new moon phase.
The general term for the visible lit part of the moon is "the phase of the moon." The visible lit portion can have a crescent shape, a gibbous shape or a "half-moon" (half circle) shape.
crescent
When the illuminated portion is decreasing from one night to the next, the moon is in its 'waning' phases.
New Moon = the moment when none of the moon's illuminated half is visible from the earth.Waxing Crescent = about 7 days; visible portion growing from zero to half of the moon's diskFirst quarter = the moment when half of the moon's disk is visibleWaxing gibbous = about 7 days; visible portion growing from half to all of the moon's diskFull Moon = the moment when all of the moon;s illuminated half is visible from the earth.Waning gibbous = about 7 days; visible portion shrinking from all to half of the moon's diskLast quarter = the moment when half of the moon's disk is visibleWaning Crescent = about 7 days; visible portion shrinking from half of the moon's disk to zero
A decrease in the illuminated portion of the Moon is called waning. When the illuminated portion is increasing, it is called waxing.
A waning cresent.
The moon phase you are describing is the waning gibbous phase. This occurs after the full moon and before the third quarter moon when the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing.
It sounds like the moon is currently waxing gibbous, with more than a quarter but less than half of the moon visible. As it progresses towards the third quarter phase, the visible portion will continue to decrease until only half of the moon is visible.
Typically, the Dark Side of the Moon
The general term for the visible lit part of the moon is "the phase of the moon." The visible lit portion can have a crescent shape, a gibbous shape or a "half-moon" (half circle) shape.
During the two-weeks' period when the illuminated portion of the moon is increasing from night to night as seen from the earth, we say that the moon is in its "waxing" phases.
There are 8 "named" phases of the Moon, representing the portion of its sunlit surface that is visible from Earth. (Whether the progression is from right to left, or left to right, depends on whether you are north or south of the Equator) New moon (Not visible or very barely visible) Waxing Crescent moon (1-49% visible) First Quarter moon (50% visible) Waxing gibbous moon (51-99% visible) Full Moon (Fully visible) Waning gibbous Moon (51-99% visible, opposite side of face from Waxing) Last Quarter Moon (50% visible, opposite half from that visible on First Quarter) Waning Crescent Moon (1-49% visible)
Getting larger is WAXING. Getting smaller is WANING..