What phase is seen at the start of the lunar cycle?

What phase is seen at the start of the lunar cycle?

• A. New Moon
• B. Waxing Crescent
• C. First Quarter
• D. Full Moon

Answer: (A)

At the start of the lunar cycle, the Moon sits between the Sun and Earth, so the side facing us is not illuminated. That alignment makes the Moon effectively invisible from Earth, which is called the New Moon. This marks the beginning of the synodic month, about 29.5 days long. After New Moon, the visible portion of the Sunlit side grows, first as a waxing crescent, then as a First Quarter when half the disk is lit, and eventually to a Full Moon when the near side is fully illuminated. The other phases occur later in the cycle, so New Moon is the correct start point.

At the start of the lunar cycle, the Moon sits between the Sun and Earth, so the side facing us is not illuminated. That alignment makes the Moon effectively invisible from Earth, which is called the New Moon. This marks the beginning of the synodic month, about 29.5 days long. After New Moon, the visible portion of the Sunlit side grows, first as a waxing crescent, then as a First Quarter when half the disk is lit, and eventually to a Full Moon when the near side is fully illuminated. The other phases occur later in the cycle, so New Moon is the correct start point.