Question

Which is the first phase of the moon cycle?
(A). Waxing Crescent
(B). Waning Crescent
(C). New Moon
(D). Full Moon

Answer 1

- Hint: The word crescent means the curved shape of the moon. Waning refers to any phase of the moon between the full moon and the new moon. On the other hand, waxing is leading from one new moon to the full moon. During the first phase of the moon cycle, it is not visible from earth.

Complete step-by-step solution -
The different angles at which the moon's face can be seen from the Earth over the duration of a month are known as the Phases of the Moon. These phases vary depending upon the portion which will be sunlit when the moon rotates on its orbit around the Earth.
The moon goes through 8 major Phases.
The New Moon is the First Phase of the Moon when the moon cannot be seen because it is in between the Earth and the Sun due to which only the unlit portion of the Moon is visible from Earth.
All the major phases of the moon in order are as follows:-
A New Moon
A Waxing Crescent Moon
The First Quarter Moon, also known as half moon
A Waxing Gibbous Moon
A Full Moon
A Waning Gibbous Moon
The Last Quarter Moon
The Waning Crescent Moon
Therefore, the correct option is C.

Additional Information:
A solar eclipse can only happen during a New Moon.
A Lunar Eclipse can happen only during a Full Moon when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, which is also known as Opposition.
The same side of the moon always faces the Earth due to tidal locking which causes synchronized rotation of two astronomical bodies, here Earth and Moon.
The lunar phase gradually changes after every synodic month which is about 29.53 days or (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds).
The Moon is slowly moving away from the Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm/year due to tidal dissipation.

Note: In the Phases of the moon waxing and waning refer to the increase and decrease of the lit portion of the moon which gives the moon its crescent, gibbous and full shapes.