The term "waning moon" refers to the phase of the moon when it appears to decrease in size after a full moon. This phase occurs as the moon moves in its orbit around the Earth, transitioning from a full moon to a new moon. During this time, the illuminated portion of the moon becomes smaller each night. The waning moon can be divided into two stages: the waning gibbous and the waning crescent. The waning gibbous occurs right after the full moon, while the waning crescent is the final phase before the new moon. Both phases are part of the lunar cycle, which lasts about 29.5 days and influences various natural phenomena.