What happens to the moon after it reaches a full moon?

After the moon reaches a full moon phase, it begins to transition into the waning phase. This is a natural progression in the lunar cycle, where the visible illuminated portion of the moon decreases after reaching its maximum brightness at the full moon. The term "waning" refers to this reduction in visibility, indicating that the moon is moving towards the new moon phase, where it will eventually be completely dark and not visible from Earth. This process contrasts with the earlier phase of waxing, where the moon's illuminated portion increases leading up to the full moon. Understanding this lunar cycle is fundamental in astronomy and helps explain the changing appearance of the moon over approximately a 29.5-day period.