Astronomy Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Astronomy Exam with detailed questions and explanations. Enhance your understanding with quizzes and study guides. Start your preparation today!

Start Multiple Choice Practice Test
Start Flash Cards

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the appearance of a waning gibbous moon?

  1. More than half of the moon's face is illuminated but less than full

  2. Less than half of the moon's face is illuminated

  3. The entire moon's face is illuminated

  4. The moon is completely dark

The correct answer is: More than half of the moon's face is illuminated but less than full

The appearance of a waning gibbous moon is characterized by more than half of the moon's face being illuminated but not completely full. This phase occurs after the full moon and leads towards the third quarter phase. During this time, we can see a substantial portion of the moon's surface lit up by sunlight, making it appear prominently in the night sky. In this phase, the illumination decreases each night, leading to a smaller illuminated portion as it approaches the new moon. Since the waning gibbous phase is defined specifically by this condition of illumination — where it is greater than half but less than fully lit — it is crucial for visual identification in various observations related to lunation cycles.

More Questions Like This