<p>I think they did make a mistake.  The moon waxes after a new moon and wanes before a new moon. To wax means to grow bigger or stronger (and is cognate with "waist"!). To wane means to become smaller or weaker (cognate with "waste" and "vaccum").</p>

<p>The moon that sets shortly after sunset in the evening is a waxing moon. The moon that rises shortly before sunrise in the morning is a waning moon.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-31T15:58:13.773Z
2019-08-31T15:58:13.773Z
James K
<p>The NASA JPL video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYGxytMV8Y" rel="nofollow noreferrer">What's Up: September 2019 Skywatching Tips from NASA</a> says (per both the closed captions and audio):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>We’re in a several-month period right now when the new Moon falls right around the end of each month. This means we get to enjoy lovely <strong>waning crescent moons at dusk for the first few days of each month</strong>, and delightful <strong>waxing crescents in the predawn sky near the end of each month</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li>Are "waning" and "waxing" used correctly here or is it just the opposite of what's said?</li>
<li>Would the video be correct if "waning" and "waxing" were replaced by "setting" and "rising"?</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/txFax.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<the-moon><amateur-observing><moon-phases><nasa>
Did NASA/JPL get "waning" and "waxing" backwards in this video?
uhoh
# Did NASA/JPL get "waning" and "waxing" backwards in this video?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-31)

The NASA JPL video [What's Up: September 2019 Skywatching Tips from NASA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYGxytMV8Y) says (per both the closed captions and audio):

> We’re in a several-month period right now when the new Moon falls right around the end of each month. This means we get to enjoy lovely **waning crescent moons at dusk for the first few days of each month**, and delightful **waxing crescents in the predawn sky near the end of each month**.

* Are "waning" and "waxing" used correctly here or is it just the opposite of what's said?
* Would the video be correct if "waning" and "waxing" were replaced by "setting" and "rising"?

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![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/txFax.jpg)

**Tags:** the-moon, amateur-observing, moon-phases, nasa


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-31. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

I think they did make a mistake. The moon waxes after a new moon and wanes before a new moon. To wax means to grow bigger or stronger (and is cognate with "waist"!). To wane means to become smaller or weaker (cognate with "waste" and "vaccum").

The moon that sets shortly after sunset in the evening is a waxing moon. The moon that rises shortly before sunrise in the morning is a waning moon.


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