Moon, Waxing Gibbous, March 16, 2008. This photograph was taken when the Moon phase was waxing gibbous, ten days after the new Moon. The word gibbous means "convex at both edges" and describes the appearance of the Moon a few days before and after full. Along the terminator, or shadow line, several prominent craters are clearly seen, and the ray patterns of lighter coloured rock sent flying across the surface by ancient impacts tell some of the story of the Moon's history.

The large circular structure to the upper left is the Mare Imbrium. A more detailed view of this region is available here.

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