Final answer:
The Moon's phase if it rises at 3:00 p.m. is likely the first quarter. If it is highest at sunrise, it is approaching full phase. If it sets at 10:00 a.m., it is in the waxing crescent phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phase of the Moon can be determined by when it appears in the sky. If the Moon rises at 3:00 p.m., it is likely in the first quarter phase, where it rises approximately at noon and sets around midnight. During this phase, you can see the Moon in the middle of the afternoon.
If the Moon is highest in the sky at sunrise, it is progressing towards the full moon phase. For the full moon, it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, being most noticeable and highest at midnight. The behavior of the full moon has even been likened to the fabled activities of Dracula, who rises at sunset and must return before sunrise, mirroring the moon's cycle.
If the Moon sets at 10:00 a.m., this would occur a few days before the first quarter, in the waxing crescent phase. The waxing crescent Moon rises after sunrise and sets in the late morning or early afternoon.