What do you call moon when almost full?

Answer 1

Because mathematically there are 4 quarters in any full cycle. The number 4 is just a convenient way of marking phases. There are actually 8 phases that are commemorated in popular culture. But the main 4 phases of the moon are named "Full, First Quarter, New Moon, and Third Quarter. Then its back to Full again... (the 8 phases that are commonly mentioned are New Crescent just after the New Moon; Old crescent just before the New Moon; Waning Gibbous just after Full Moon; and Waxing Gibbous just before Full Moon. We look at the moon we see only half of it so when only half of that is lit by the sun we are looking at one quarter.

Answer 2

Lunar phases. Also, a full moon can not change into a new moon immidiatly; First it is a full moon, then it becoomes a waning gibbous, then it becomes a last-quarter moon, then it becomes a waning cresent, and then, finally, it turns into a new moon. And then a new moon turns into a waxing cresent, which becomes a 1st-quarter moon, which becomes a waxing gibbous, and then become a full moon again.

Answer 3

Great question!

In describing the phases of the moon, the words "new", "crescent", "gibbous",

and "full" refer to the moon, but "first quarter" and "third quarter" don't. If they

did, then they'd be need to be called something like "left half moon" and "right

half moon".

These labels refer to the time during the cycle of phases when those shapes

appear, beginning with the New Moon.

Beginning with the New Moon, "first quarter" is the point in time after 7.4 days ...

one quarter of the way through the phases ... and "third quarter" is the point in time

after 22.1 days ... three quarters of the way to the next New Moon.

Answer 4

Great question ! We're surprised that it isn't asked moreoften.

The moon appears "half lighted" at two points in the cycle of phases ... at both the

"First Quarter" and "Third Quarter" phases.

Beginning with the time of the New Moon, these two occasions take place at ( 1/4 )

and at ( 3/4 ) of the way through the complete cycle of phases.

The "Quarter" designations refer to the portion of the total cycle that has been completed,

not to the amount of the moon that appears illuminated.

Answer 5

When the moon is almost full, it is called a waxing gibbous moon. This phase occurs just before a full moon when more than half of the moon's surface is illuminated.

Answer 6

Its just called a new moon and is a moon phase that is part of the moon phase cycle. Usually new moons can't be seen since the whole side of the moon that we can normally see is all dark.

Answer 7

You would call it a waxing gibbous.

Answer 8

That depends where you start counting.

That depends where you start counting.

That depends where you start counting.

That depends where you start counting.

Answer 9

That is because the moon has two sides 1 sometimes facing us and the other also sometimes facing us so when one sides half full it is really a quarter moon facing us

Answer 10

No, A new moon is the phase where you can't see any of the moon, while the full moon is the phase were you can see all of the moon.