What exactly is a Gibbous moon?

Question

And does anyone know what the word "Gibbous" is derived from?

Answer 1

A Gibbous Moon is just a moon more than a quarter but not full.
Gibbous: The word gibbous in Astronomy means convex at both edges of a heavenly body, as the moon when more than half full.
One appropriate definition of "gibbous" is "swollen on one side."
It also means having a hump or humpbacked. Characterized by convexity; protuberant. Origin of the word: From Late Latin gibbsus meaning hunch-backed, from Latin gibbus meaning hump. 1350–1400; from Latin word gibbōsus meaning humped

Answer 2

A Gibbous Moon is just a moon more than a quarter but not full.

Gibbous:
>>The word gibbous in Astronomy means convex at both edges of a heavenly body, as the moon when more than half full.
>>One appropriate definition of "gibbous" is "swollen on one side."
>>It also means having a hump or humpbacked.
>>Characterized by convexity; protuberant.

Origin of the word:
>>From Late Latin gibbsus meaning hunch-backed, from Latin gibbus meaning hump.
>>1350–1400; from Latin word gibbōsus meaning humped, equiv. to gibb(a) hump + -ōsus -ous.

Hope it helps.☺

Answer 3

A gibbous moon is more than half phase, but less than full. The word is derived from the latin for "humped".

Answer 4

Waxing gibbous Moon - Right 51-99% visible

Answer 5

"Gibbous" is a term that describes the moon when it is in 2/3 visibility. Either waning or waxing, depending on where it is in its cycle.

Answer 6

i dont know wat gibbous means but a gibbous moon is when it is in the stage of when the suns light starts to fade away unike wanning is when the light lits up the moon

Answer 7

Can't help you with the origins of the word, but it is a poetic form, meaning and especially full, bright, seemingly oversized moon.

Answer 8

It is when it is mostly full. It was in a book I am reading now, Codex, and so I had to look it up recently

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbous_moon