During which phase do we observe a waxing crescent?

A waxing crescent phase occurs after a new moon and before the first quarter moon. During this phase, a small sliver of the moon becomes illuminated by sunlight, and the visible portion of the moon grows larger or "waxes" each night. This illumination is caused by the angle of the sun's light as the moon orbits Earth, which allows us to see more of the moon's surface as it progresses towards the full moon phase.

Observing a waxing crescent indicates that the moon is moving from a position where it is completely hidden from view (new moon) to a time when more of its surface will become enlightened, reflecting more sunlight and becoming more visible in the night sky. In contrast, the phases before and after the full moon, and the phase before a new moon, refer to different stages of moon visibility where the lighting appears either diminished or absent.