A waxing crescent moon is an intermediate phase of the lunar cycle that starts right after the new moon and lasts until it becomes a first quarter moon.
Meaning of a waxing crescent moon
A waxing crescent moon consists of two terms: waxing and crescent.
“Waxing” means increasing or growing. After a new moon, the illuminated area of the moon increases day by day. That’s why it’s called a waxing moon.
The illuminated area of a waxing crescent moon increases from 0% to 50%.
“Crescent” means curved sickle shape. The moon looks like a curved sickle shape between a new moon and a first quarter moon. That’s why it’s called a crescent moon.
So a waxing crescent moon indicates the shape of the moon.
Rise and set time of a waxing crescent moon
A waxing crescent moon rises in the morning (between sunrise and noon), reaches its highest point in the sky (overhead point) in the afternoon, and sets in the evening (between sunset and midnight).
Please remember, a waxing crescent moon does not rise and set at the same time every day. On consecutive days, a waxing crescent moon rises and sets about 50 minutes later.
Best time to see a waxing crescent moon
You’ll find a waxing crescent moon in the western sky after sunset around two to three days after a new moon.
A waxing crescent moon is difficult to see in the daytime as it disappears in the sun’s glare due to its thin sickle shape.
Duration of a waxing crescent moon
The moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a lunar cycle.
Now, a lunar cycle has eight phases in total. These are the new moon, waxing crescent moon, first quarter moon, waxing gibbous moon, full moon, waning gibbous moon, third quarter moon, and waning crescent moon.
Four primary phases (new moon, first quarter, full moon, and third quarter) have no duration as they occur at a specific moment in time.
So the duration of four intermediate phases (waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, and waning crescent) is 29.5 days in total.
So the duration of a waxing crescent moon is about 29.5/4 = 7.38 days.
Orientation of a waxing crescent moon
A waxing crescent moon appears as a curved sickle shape in the sky from anywhere in the world. Its percentage of illumination is also the same. However, it looks opposite in opposite hemispheres.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the illuminated part appears on the right side, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it appears on the left side.
Earthshine on a waxing crescent moon
You might see earthshine – the faint beautiful glow on the unlit part of a waxing crescent moon. Look for them in the western sky around an hour after sunset.
The phases of the moon
The moon goes through phases as it orbits Earth. Follow the links below to understand the phases of the moon.
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