What is the moon phase ... waxing moon, and gradually increases from a waxing "crescent" (for its shape into the first quarter moon. As it continues to brighten, it takes on an oblong, or "gibbous ...

The first quarter further proceeds to expose more of the Moon in what is known as the Waxing Gibbous (Gibbous Moon) phase. This period leads to the Full Moon in a steadily growing light. The waxing ...

Each of these primary moon phases marks a quarter of the lunar cycle and lasts only a moment. The remaining phases – "waxing crescent," "waxing gibbous," "waning gibbous," and "waxing gibbous" – mark ...