How to Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning

Determining whether the moon is waxing or waning can tell you a lot about what phase it’s in, how the tides will move, and where the moon is in relation to the Earth and the sun. It’s also helpful to know where the moon rises and sets during its different phases, in case you want to see it on a particular night. A waxing moon is in the process of increasing how much of it is lit (as observed night to night). i.e., it's headed toward being a full moon. Waning is the opposite. There are a couple ways to figure out whether the moon is waxing or waning. Although the details are slightly different depending on where you are in the world, the bulk of the method is still the same.