Why Do They Call it Waxing and Waning?
If you’ve ever looked up in the sky and noticed the moon appearing to grow or shrink, you may have wondered why it’s called waxing and waning. In fact, “waxing” and “waning” refer to the moon’s phases, which are caused by the moon’s motion around Earth.
Waxing
Waxing refers to the moon’s phases when it appears to be growing larger. This phase starts after the new moon – when the moon is not visible from Earth – and lasts until the full moon. During this period, the amount of visible sunlight reflected from the moon increases, causing it to appear larger.
There are four primary phases of the waxing period:
- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent
- First Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous
The new moon is when the moon is between the Earth and the sun. The side of the moon that faces Earth is not illuminated and it cannot be seen from Earth. As the moon starts to move away from the sun, the waxing crescent phase begins. This phase is characterized by a thin crescent shape on the right side of the moon. As the moon continues to move away from the sun, the amount of sunlight reflected increases and so the moon appears to grow. The first quarter moon is when half of the moon is visible, and is generally seen as a waxing “half moon.” Finally, during the waxing gibbous phase, most of the moon is visible until it reaches a full moon.
Waning
Waning refers to the moon’s phases when it appears to be shrinking. This phase starts after the full moon – when the moon is completely visible – and lasts until the next new moon. During this period, the amount of visible sunlight reflected from the moon decreases, causing it to appear smaller.
The waning period also has four primary phases:
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Last Quarter
- Waning Crescent
During the full moon phase, the entire face of the moon is illuminated and can be seen from Earth. As the moon starts to move closer to the sun, the waning gibbous phase begins. During this phase, the illuminated area on the moon starts to decrease, and it appears to shrink. The last quarter moon is when half of the moon is visible, but it is generally seen as a waning “half moon.” Finally, during the waning crescent phase, only a thin crescent shape on the left side of the moon is visible. This phase ends when the moon becomes a new moon again.
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Why Do They Call it Waxing and Waning?
People have been using the terms ‘waxing’ and ‘waning’ for centuries to describe the phases of the moon. These terms are now widely used, not just in astronomy but also in various fields such as literature, art, and even pop culture. However, not everyone knows where these terms come from and what they exactly mean. In this blog post, we will be exploring the most frequently asked questions about why we call the moon’s phases waxing and waning.
What is Waxing and Waning?
Let’s start with the basics. Waxing and waning are terms that are used to describe the changing phases of the moon. The moon’s phases are the result of the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and moon. As the moon orbits the Earth, it appears to change shape in the sky. The four primary phases of the moon are the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the third quarter.
Waxing means that the moon is getting bigger and brighter, while waning means that it is getting smaller and dimmer. During waxing, the amount of the moon that we can see from Earth increases until it reaches its full phase. During waning, the amount of the moon that we can see from Earth decreases until it reaches its new phase.
Where Do the Terms Waxing and Waning Come From?
The terms ‘waxing’ and ‘waning’ have their origins in the Old English language. The word ‘waxing’ comes from the Old English word ‘weaxan’, which means ‘to grow’ or ‘to become’. The word ‘waning’ comes from the Old English word ‘wanian’, which means ‘to decrease’ or ‘to fade’.
The use of these terms to describe the phases of the moon can be traced back to medieval times. In those days, the phases of the moon were closely observed and recorded, primarily for astrological purposes. The waxing and waning of the moon were thought to correspond to the growth and decay of plants, as well as the rising and falling of tides.
What are the Different Phases of the Moon?
As mentioned earlier, there are four primary phases of the moon: the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the third quarter. However, there are also several intermediate phases, which are called the waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, and waning crescent.
The new moon occurs when the moon is between the sun and the Earth. This phase is also sometimes called the dark moon, as it is not visible from Earth. The first quarter occurs when the moon is at a 90-degree angle to the Earth and sun. During this phase, we can see half of the moon’s surface illuminated. The full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, which means that it is fully illuminated. Finally, the third quarter is when the moon is at another 90-degree angle to the Earth and sun, and we can see the other half of the illuminated moon.
What Causes the Moon’s Phases?
The moon’s phases are caused by its position relative to the sun and Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, it moves through different positions relative to the sun, and this causes us to see different portions of its illuminated surface.
When the moon is between the sun and Earth, we see the part of the moon that is not illuminated, which is the new moon phase. As the moon moves away from this position, we start to see a sliver of its illuminated surface, which is the waxing crescent phase. As the moon continues to move away from the sun, more of its surface becomes visible, until it reaches its full phase. Then, as the moon moves back towards its starting position, its illuminated surface starts to become obscured, and we see the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent phases.
Why Do They Call it Waxing and Waning?
If you’ve ever gazed up at the sky on a clear night, you might have noticed that the moon seems to change shape. Sometimes it’s a full, round disk, while other times it appears as a thin crescent. Astronomers refer to this periodic change in the moon’s appearance as waxing and waning. But why do they call it that?
The Meaning of Waxing and Waning
Waxing and waning are ancient terms that originated in astrology. These terms describe the moon’s apparent change in size and shape as seen from Earth. The word “waxing” means to get bigger or increase, while “waning” means to decrease or get smaller.
Solar Illumination and Moon Phases
The moon doesn’t actually change in size or shape. Its varying appearance is due to the way sunlight illuminates it as it orbits around the Earth. The moon orbits the Earth once every 29.5 days, and as it does, the amount of sunlight that reflects off its surface changes.
When the moon is positioned between the sun and the Earth, it is said to be in its “new moon phase,” which means that it is not visible from Earth. As the moon orbits around the Earth, its illuminated side becomes increasingly visible to observers on Earth, resulting in what is known as the “waxing” phase.
When the moon reaches its halfway point in its orbit, it enters the “full moon phase,” which means that its entire illuminated surface is visible from Earth. After the full moon, the moon begins to move back into its “waning” phase, gradually shrinking in apparent size as the illuminated side becomes smaller.
The Eight Moon Phases
The waxing and waning of the moon occurs in eight distinct phases, each lasting approximately 3.69 days. These phases include:
1. New Moon – During this phase, the moon is not visible from Earth.
2. Waxing Crescent – During this phase, the moon appears as a thin, crescent shape.
3. First Quarter – During this phase, the moon appears to be half-illuminated.
4. Waxing Gibbous – During this phase, the moon appears almost fully illuminated, but is not quite yet a full moon.
5. Full Moon – During this phase, the entire illuminated side of the moon is visible from Earth.
6. Waning Gibbous – During this phase, the illuminated side of the moon begins to shrink.
7. Third Quarter – During this phase, the moon appears to be half-illuminated, but on the opposite side from the First Quarter phase.
8. Waning Crescent – During this phase, the moon appears as a thin, crescent shape again, but on the opposite side from the Waxing Crescent phase.
The Significance of Waxing and Waning in Mythology and Folklore
The phenomenon of waxing and waning has been observed by humans for thousands of years, and it has played an important role in many cultures’ mythologies and folklore. In ancient cultures, the moon was often worshiped as a deity, and its waxing and waning was thought to represent the cycles of birth and death, growth and decay.
In many cultures, the new moon represented the beginning of a new cycle, while the full moon was thought to be a time of heightened energy and power. The moon’s phases were also believed to have an impact on human behavior, with some cultures associating the full moon with madness or heightened emotions.
Conclusion
Waxing and waning describe the periodic change in the moon’s apparent size and shape as seen from Earth. The terms originated in astrology and have been used for thousands of years to describe the moon’s phases. The waxing and waning of the moon has played an important role in many cultures’ mythologies and has been associated with the cycles of birth and death, growth and decay, and human behavior. Understanding the moon’s phases can give us a greater appreciation for the natural world and its many wonders.
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