On December 22, the moon appeared as a delicate Waxing Crescent phase, visible in the evening sky. Only a small portion of the lunar surface was lit by the sun, showing roughly 5 to 6 percent illumination. This marked the moon's gradual return to visibility after its New Moon phase just two days prior.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} ### Understanding the Waxing Crescent The Waxing Crescent is the second phase in the moon's monthly cycle. It occurs shortly after the New Moon, when the moon is barely visible from Earth.^[2] During this time, the illuminated sliver of the moon grows larger each night as it moves away from the sun in the sky. The term "waxing" means increasing, referring to the growing amount of visible light.^[2] On December 22, the moon was approximately 2 to 3 days old, meaning that many days had passed since the last New Moon.^{[1][2][6][3][4]} Observers could see a thin curve of light on the moon's right-hand side in the Northern Hemisphere. This subtle glow makes the Waxing Crescent a captivating sight for those who know where and when to look. ### Best Time for Observation For skygazers on December 22, the Waxing Crescent moon was best viewed in the western sky shortly after sunset.^[2][4] It typically rises before noon and sets before midnight, offering a window of opportunity in the early evening.^[6][4] The low angle of the sun at this phase allows for unique viewing of the moon's surface features along the terminator, the line between light and shadow. Sometimes, during the Waxing Crescent phase, observers can faintly see the unlit part of the moon. This phenomenon is known as "earthshine" or the Da Vinci glow. It happens when sunlight reflects off Earth's clouds and oceans, bounces to the moon, and then reflects back to our eyes.^[2] This makes the dark portion of the moon appear as a ghostly, dim orb. ### The Moon's Journey The moon completes a full cycle of its phases, known as a synodic month, in about 29.5 days.^[4] This continuous cycle creates the different appearances of the moon we see from Earth. The phases depend on the moon's position relative to the Earth and the sun. As the moon orbits our planet, varying amounts of its sunlit side become visible to us. The cycle begins with the New Moon, when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, making it appear completely dark and invisible.^[7] Following the New Moon, the Waxing Crescent emerges, growing into the First Quarter, where half of the moon is illuminated.^[2][7] The moon then progresses to the Waxing Gibbous, where more than half is lit, before reaching the Full Moon, when its entire face is bright.^[5] After the Full Moon, the illumination begins to decrease. This period is called "waning." The phases then reverse, moving from Waning Gibbous to the Last Quarter (also known as Third Quarter), where the other half of the moon is lit.^[5][7] Finally, it becomes a Waning Crescent before returning to the New Moon, completing the cycle. ### Future Lunar Events The Waxing Crescent on December 22, 2025, marked the beginning of the moon's journey toward its next major illumination. The moon was located in the constellation Capricorn during this time.^[1][2][6][3] The next significant phase for observers will be the First Quarter moon, which is expected to occur on December 27, 2025.^[2][7] During the First Quarter, exactly half of the moon's face will be illuminated, offering a clear half-moon shape in the sky. Following the First Quarter, the moon will continue to wax, leading to the Full Moon, also known as the Wolf Moon, on January 3, 2026.^[1][7] This Full Moon will provide a spectacular display as the entire lunar disk is bathed in sunlight. These predictable cycles allow astronomers and casual observers alike to plan their skywatching activities well in advance.

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