Final Answer:
The sun's light illuminates the moon causing the WAXING CRESCENT phase as sunlight reflects off the moon's surface, showing a small illuminated portion from Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Waxing Crescent phase, the moon appears to grow in illumination. This occurs because of the moon's position in its orbit around Earth. When the moon is between the Earth and the sun, the sunlight hits the side of the moon facing away from Earth, making it appear dark to us—a phase known as the new moon. As the moon moves along its orbit, a gradually increasing portion of its sunlit side becomes visible from Earth. This illumination happens as sunlight reflects off the moon's surface, presenting a slender crescent shape to us. This phase marks the early stages of the moon's journey towards a full moon.
So, the Waxing Crescent phase is a result of the moon's positioning relative to Earth and the sun, allowing sunlight to gradually illuminate a small part of the moon's surface visible from Earth.
Correct Answer: The sun's light illuminates the moon causing the Waxing Crescent phase.