Page 58 - Grade 5 Illustrated Science Dictionary

Full Moon

This is as close as we come to seeing the Sun’s illumination of the

entire day side of the Moon (so, technically, this would be the real half
moon). The Moon is opposite the Sun, as viewed from Earth,

revealing the Moon’s dayside. A full moon rises around sunset and

sets around sunrise. The Moon will appear full for a couple of days

before it moves into…

Waning Gibbous

As the Moon begins its journey back toward the Sun, the opposite

side of the Moon now reflects the Moon’s light. The lighted side
appears to shrink, but the Moon’s orbit is simply carrying it out of view

from our perspective. The Moon rises later and later each night.