waning gibbous moon
lunar phase
Quick Summary
The waning gibbous moon is one of the eight phases of the Moon as seen from Earth. This phase occurs when about three-fourths of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun, but the visible illuminated portion is decreasing. It follows the full moon and precedes the last quarter moon in the lunar cycle. The Moon displays these varying appearances because different amounts of its surface are lit by the Sun as it orbits Earth.12
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