Which of the following phases comes after the waxing gibbous?

• A. New moon
• B. Full moon
• C. Waning crescent
• D. Last quarter

Answer: (B)

The waxing gibbous phase is a stage in the lunar cycle where the moon appears to be more than half illuminated but not yet fully illuminated. After the waxing gibbous phase, the next phase is the full moon, which occurs when the entire face of the moon is fully illuminated by the sun. This transition signifies that the moon has moved to the point in its orbit where it is positioned directly opposite the sun from Earth, allowing us to see the entire illuminated side.

Understanding the lunar phases involves recognizing the order in which they occur: starting with the new moon, progressing to the waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, and then moving into the waning phases. Thus, following the waxing gibbous, the next phase is indeed the full moon.