Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Begin with the new moon phase---no moon is visible.
This phase occurs when the moon is between the earth and the sun. Because the three spheres are aligned, we are unable to see the illuminated side of the moon---its lit side is facing the sun, with its back to the earth. Remember this phase by associating "new" with "beginning."
Move to the first quarter phase---half a circle.
In this phase, the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun has turned half way and we see a full half of the moon. This phase is also call a half-moon phase (like the third quarter).
As this change begins we see only a sliver, or crescent of the moon showing-- this is called waxing crescent. You can determine waxing, or growing because you can see the dark shadow of the moon to the left of the crescent. Waxing, or growing, is always to the left of the crescent.
Memory trick: think of visiting the WC [waxing crescent (or water closet)] by turning left down a long hallway that seems to be ever increasing with a person waxing the floor.
As the half moon continues to become fuller, we refer to it as waxing gibbous (from the Latin, hunchback). The shadow is still on the left.
Memory trick: now it is a hunchbacked person who is doing the waxing and turning left.
Move from a half moon to a full moon--a full circle.
Here the alignment of the new moon is reversed, with the earth in between the moon and the sun, so the entire sunlit part of the moon is visible.
Finish with the third quarter--another half circle.
As with the first quarter, we again seeing half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow. Because the moon is now disappearing, we refer to it as a waning moon. The moon's shadow is now on the right instead of the left. When the half moon is beginning to wan, it is waning gibbous and when it begins to look like a crescent, it is waning crescent. When the moon disappears, it is back to a new moon phase.
Memory trick: if you remember the hallway going to the left for a waxing moon, then just remember that there is no waxing, and therefore no left in a waning phase.