Final answer:
It takes approximately 14 days for the Moon to transition from a waxing gibbous to a waning crescent, going through the full moon and waning gibbous phases in between.
Step-by-step explanation:
To transition from a waxing gibbous to a waning crescent, it takes approximately 14 days. This is because the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete its monthly cycle from new moon to new moon. The waxing gibbous phase occurs just after the first half of this cycle when the Moon is more than half illuminated but not yet full. As it continues its orbit around Earth, it reaches the full moon phase and then starts waning, passing through the waning gibbous phase, third quarter, and eventually becomes a waning crescent. About 14 days after the full moon, the moon's cycle would have progressed from fully illuminated to almost dark again just before the new moon phase.
The transition from a waxing gibbous to a waning crescent takes approximately 14 days due to the Moon's monthly cycle, which lasts about 29.5 days from new moon to new moon. The waxing gibbous phase occurs just after the first half of this cycle when more than half of the Moon is illuminated but not yet fully lit. Following this, the Moon reaches the full moon phase before entering the waning phase. During the waning period, the Moon goes through phases such as waning gibbous, third quarter, and eventually becomes a waning crescent. About 14 days after the full moon, the Moon's illumination decreases from fully lit to almost dark just before transitioning to the new moon phase, completing one lunar cycle and beginning the next.