Waning (pronounced weigh-ning), opposite to waxing.
The moon phase on Thursday, December 23, 2010, was a Waning Gibbous. This phase occurs after the Full Moon phase and before the Third Quarter phase, where the illuminated portion of the moon decreases each night.
After a full moon, the illuminated portion of the moon gradually decreases as it moves toward the last quarter phase. This period is known as the waning phase, during which less of the moon's surface is lit by the sun. The illuminated half decreases until it reaches the new moon phase, where the moon is not visible from Earth.
Last quarter moon comes after the full moon
The phase of the moon that occurs between the third quarter and the new moon is the waning crescent. During this phase, the illuminated part of the moon visible from Earth decreases until it eventually becomes a new moon with no visible illumination.
This period is known as the waning phase of the moon. During this phase, the illuminated portion of the moon visible from Earth decreases in size as it transitions from a full moon to a new moon.
When the moon appears to get smaller, it is in a phase known as the waning phase. This occurs after the full moon, as the illuminated portion of the moon decreases until it reaches the new moon phase. During this time, it transitions through different shapes, including the waning gibbous and waning crescent phases.
When the moon appears to reduce in size, it is called the "waning" phase. This occurs after the full moon, as the illuminated portion of the moon decreases leading to the new moon phase. The waning phases include the waning gibbous and waning crescent.
The phase that comes one week before the New Moon is the Last Quarter Moon. During this phase, half of the Moon's surface is illuminated, appearing as a half-circle in the sky. It signifies a time of reflection and letting go, as the Moon's illumination decreases leading up to the New Moon.
The moon presents in the "waning crescent" phase during roughly the week before each New Moon. During that time, the visible portion of the moon is less than half of a full circle, and decreases as time passes.
After a full moon, the moon's illumination gradually decreases in a phase known as the waning gibbous. This is followed by the last quarter moon, a waning crescent moon, and finally a new moon.
The Moon appears as a waning gibbous when it is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, but not directly between them. Specifically, this phase occurs after the full moon when the illuminated portion of the Moon decreases. During this phase, more than half of the Moon's face is still illuminated, but the light is gradually diminishing as it approaches the last quarter phase.
The waning crescent is the phase of the moon just before a new moon, characterized by a small sliver of visible light on the left side as the illuminated portion decreases. It occurs as the moon moves further away from the full moon phase.