Crescent Moon, Waning

A waning crescent moon, the phase between last quarter and new moon when less than half the visible disk is illuminated.

Visual Description

The waning crescent moon appeared in the eastern sky before sunrise as a thin arc of light. The illuminated portion showed a smooth curve on the left side (eastern limb) with the terminator clearly visible. Earthshine softly illuminated the dark portion of the disk, creating a ghostly full circle visible against the brightening twilight sky.

Notable Features

• Thin crescent shape, illuminated on left side (eastern limb)
• Bright curve with distinct terminator
• Earthshine on dark portion
• Visible in eastern sky before sunrise
• Decreasing illumination each morning

Notes

• Occurs 1-7 days before new moon
• Illumination decreases from 50% to 0% during this phase
• “Waning” means shrinking or decreasing
• Best observed before sunrise
• Morning crescent often shows dramatic earthshine