The illuminated part of the Moon visible from the Earth grows larger each day (waxing) after the:

After the new moon, the sunlit part of the Moon that we can see from the Earth increases each day. This growing phase is called waxing, and in the Indian calendar it is called Shukla Paksha (the bright fortnight).

Why the Moon shows phases:

• The Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects sunlight.
• At any time, half of the Moon is lit by the Sun.
• As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different portions of this lit half, which creates the phases.

The cycle of phases:

New moon: The Moon lies between the Earth and the Sun. Its lit side faces away from us, so it is not visible.

Waxing crescent: A thin curved sliver appears in the western sky after sunset.

First quarter: About a week after the new moon, half of the Moon's face appears lit.

Waxing gibbous: More than half is lit.

Then the Moon becomes completely lit, about two weeks after the new moon.

After that, the lit part shrinks (waning) through the waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent phases, and the cycle begins again.

Length of the cycle:

One complete cycle of phases, from one new moon to the next, takes about 29.5 days. This is called the synodic month.

In Indian tradition:

• The new moon day is called Amavasya.
• The bright fortnight after it is Shukla Paksha, and the dark fortnight is Krishna Paksha.
• Many festivals are linked to these days; for example, Diwali is celebrated on the Amavasya of the month of Kartika.
• Islamic months begin with the sighting of the thin crescent Moon after the new moon.

Identifying waxing and waning:

In the Northern Hemisphere, when the right side of the Moon is lit, it is waxing; when the left side is lit, it is waning.

Why not the other options?

• ✗After the last quarter and during the waning crescent and waning gibbous phases, the lit part is getting smaller, not larger.