waning crescent moon
Quick Summary
The waning crescent is one of the eight distinct phases the Moon goes through as it orbits Earth. This phase occurs after the last quarter and before the new moon. During the waning crescent, only a small sliver of the Moon is illuminated and visible from Earth. The term "waning" indicates that the illuminated portion is decreasing, and "crescent" refers to the shape of the visible light. Originally, "crescent" specifically referred to the waxing phase, meaning the moon was growing in illumination, reflecting the Latin word "crescere" for "to grow."123
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