What are the major Moon phases in order?

What are the major Moon phases in order?

• A. New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent
• B. New Moon, Waxing Gibbous, First Quarter, Waxing Crescent, Full Moon, Waning Crescent, Last Quarter, Waning Gibbous
• C. New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Full Moon, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent
• D. New Moon, Waning Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Crescent, Full Moon, Waxing Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Gibbous

Answer: (A)

Understanding how the visible portion of the Moon changes as it orbits Earth is what this asks. The Moon goes through a repeating sequence as it moves: New Moon (not visible because the Sunlit side is away from us), then a thin Waxing Crescent, then Half lit at First Quarter, then more than half lit as Waxing Gibbous, reaching a fully illuminated Full Moon. After Full Moon the illumination tapers, first as Waning Gibbous, then Half lit at Last Quarter, and finally a thin Waning Crescent before returning to New Moon. This gives the order: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent. The other options mix up the sequence, placing waxing and waning phases in the wrong order and not matching the month-long progression of illumination we observe.

Understanding how the visible portion of the Moon changes as it orbits Earth is what this asks. The Moon goes through a repeating sequence as it moves: New Moon (not visible because the Sunlit side is away from us), then a thin Waxing Crescent, then Half lit at First Quarter, then more than half lit as Waxing Gibbous, reaching a fully illuminated Full Moon. After Full Moon the illumination tapers, first as Waning Gibbous, then Half lit at Last Quarter, and finally a thin Waning Crescent before returning to New Moon. This gives the order: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent. The other options mix up the sequence, placing waxing and waning phases in the wrong order and not matching the month-long progression of illumination we observe.