Final answer:
The lunar phases occur in a specific order as the Moon orbits Earth: waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, and full moon.
Step-by-step explanation:
To rank the lunar phases in order that they appear during a month, we must understand the progression of these phases as the Moon orbits Earth. The first phase after the new moon is the waxing crescent, followed by the first quarter moon, where half of the Moon's illuminated side is visible from Earth. After this, the Moon becomes a waxing gibbous, with more than half but less than fully illuminated, and then reaches the full moon phase, where its entire face is illuminated, facing Earth directly.
- Waxing Crescent
- First Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous
- Full Moon