The terms "waxing" and "waning" describe the different phases of the moon as it appears to us on Earth. Both waxing and waning are related to the changing illumination of the moon's surface.
Waxing Moon: A waxing moon refers to the period when the illuminated portion of the moon visible from Earth is increasing. During this phase, the moon appears to grow larger from a thin crescent to a half-moon and eventually to a full moon. It occurs after the new moon phase.
Waning Moon: A waning moon, on the other hand, is the phase when the illuminated portion of the moon visible from Earth is decreasing. During this phase, the moon appears to shrink from a full moon to a half-moon and eventually to a thin crescent. It occurs after the full moon phase.
The terms "new moon" and "full moon" refer to specific phases of the moon:
New Moon: A new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. In this phase, the side of the moon facing Earth is not illuminated, making the moon appear completely dark or invisible to observers on Earth. The new moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle.
Full Moon: A full moon occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the moon, and the entire side of the moon facing Earth is fully illuminated by the Sun. This phase is characterized by a complete, round shape of the moon as seen from Earth.
So, to summarize, waxing and waning describe the changing illumination and visibility of the moon over the course of a lunar cycle, while new moon and full moon refer to specific phases during which the moon is either completely dark or fully illuminated, respectively.