Question

Describe a gibbous moon

Answer 1

A gibbous moon refers to a phase of the Moon where it appears more than half illuminated but less than fully illuminated. This phase occurs after the first quarter moon and before the full moon. There are two types of gibbous phases: the waxing gibbous, which occurs as the Moon transitions from first quarter to full moon, and the waning gibbous, which occurs as it transitions from full moon to last quarter.

During the waxing gibbous phase, the illuminated portion of the moon increases, presenting a bright and prominent appearance in the night sky. In contrast, the waning gibbous phase shows a gradually decreasing illuminated surface.

A gibbous moon can look particularly striking when it rises just after sunset, casting a silvery light and revealing surface features like craters and maria with greater clarity. The term "gibbous" itself derives from the Latin word "gibbus," meaning "hump," reflecting the Moon's bulging shape during this phase.