Which phase is seen after Full Moon when illumination is decreasing but more than half?

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Explore the intricacies of the Sun-Earth-Moon System with our C20 Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions to gain a comprehensive understanding of celestial mechanics. Prepare thoroughly for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which phase is seen after Full Moon when illumination is decreasing but more than half?

Explanation:
After a Full Moon the visible illumination is shrinking as the Moon moves toward New Moon. The term waning means decreasing illumination, and gibbous means more than half of the Moon is lit. So the phase seen when the Moon is still more than half lit but the light is decreasing is Waning Gibbous. The other stages don’t fit as well: Third Quarter is exactly half lit, Waning Crescent is less than half lit as it moves toward New Moon, and New Moon has little to no illumination.

After a Full Moon the visible illumination is shrinking as the Moon moves toward New Moon. The term waning means decreasing illumination, and gibbous means more than half of the Moon is lit. So the phase seen when the Moon is still more than half lit but the light is decreasing is Waning Gibbous. The other stages don’t fit as well: Third Quarter is exactly half lit, Waning Crescent is less than half lit as it moves toward New Moon, and New Moon has little to no illumination.

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