What is the difference between a waxing moon and a a waning moon?

Answer 1

"Waxing" is an old English word that's not used any more, and means "growing".

It's applied to the moon during the first two weeks after a New Moon, during which

the illuminated part of the moon that we see becomes larger as time goes on, until

the moon is full.

"Waning" is an old English word that's still used, and means "shrinking". It's applied

to the moon during the two weeks after a Full Moon, during which the illuminated part

of the moon that we see becomes smaller as time goes on, until the moon is New again.

Answer 2

"Waxing" and "waning" are olde English words that are no longer used in everyday

conversation, which is the reason that they seem so mysterious.

"Waxing" simply means 'growing' or 'increasing'. It describes the moon during

the first two weeks after New Moon, when the lighted part of the moon is bigger

every night than it was the night before.

"Waning" simply means 'shrinking' or 'decreasing'. It describes the moon during

the last two weeks before New Moon, when the lighted part of the moon is smaller

every night than it was the night before.

Answer 3

These are archaic terms, waxing meaning growing larger and waning meaning shrinking or fading.

What is getting larger or getting smaller is the visible (illuminated) portion of the Moon that can be seen from Earth. Waxing means that with each day more is being lit (leading up to a Full Moon). Waning is the following period during which the Moon goes from Full down to a New Moon (seen as completely dark) before repeating its monthly phases.

Waxing = more of the Moon visible

Waning = less of the Moon visible

Answer 4

"Waxing" is growing BIGGER from one night to the next.

"Waning" is shrinking SMALLER from one night to the next.