Final answer:
The Moon's phases rank from dimmest to brightest as follows: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, and full moon, with the full moon being the brightest phase as the entire illuminated side is visible to Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phases of the Moon vary in brightness based on how much of the Moon's illuminated hemisphere is visible from Earth. Starting with the dimmer phases and moving towards the brightest, the order is as follows:
- New moon
- Waxing crescent
- First quarter
- Waxing gibbous
- Full moon
During the new moon phase, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and its illuminated side is facing away from Earth, making it appear dark. As the Moon orbits Earth, it transitions from new moon to waxing crescent where we begin to see a sliver of the illuminated side. The first quarter phase shows us half of the Moon's illuminated hemisphere, and the Moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. The Moon continues to appear brighter during the waxing gibbous phase until it reaches the full moon phase, where the entire illuminated side is visible, making it the brightest. At the full moon, the Moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, staying visible throughout the night.