Final answer:
The correct order of lunar phases, starting with the new moon, is as follows: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent. The Moon can be seen in the middle of the morning during the Waning Crescent phase and in the middle of the afternoon during the Waxing Crescent phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
- New Moon: The Moon is not visible from Earth because the illuminated side is facing away from us. It rises and sets around the same times as the Sun, which means you cannot see the Moon in the middle of the morning or afternoon during this phase.
- Waxing Crescent: A small crescent of the Moon becomes visible after the new moon. It is visible in the western sky after sunset and sets a few hours later.
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon's disk is illuminated and visible. It rises around noon, is highest in the sky during the evening, and sets around midnight.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is illuminated and visible, but not yet a full circle. It rises after noon, is highest in the sky during the evening, and sets around midnight.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is illuminated and visible. It rises around sunset, is highest in the sky during midnight, and sets around sunrise.
- Waning Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is illuminated and visible, but the illuminated part is slowly decreasing. It rises in the evening, is highest in the sky during midnight, and sets in the morning.
- Last Quarter: Half of the Moon's disk is illuminated and visible, but the illuminated part is decreasing. It rises around midnight, is highest in the sky during the early morning, and sets around noon.
- Waning Crescent: A small crescent of the Moon becomes visible before the new moon. It is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise and sets a few hours later.