Moon before and after transit

I am doing a moon observation for a class but have trouble understanding the professor asking for each moon is before and after transit. I tried looking at other sites but no avail as it makes it more confusing than it seems. Here's what I gathered so far.

Sept 5, 2011
Azimuth: 240°
Altitude: 45°
(Waxing Gibbous)

Sept 7, 2011
Azimuth: 190°
Altitude: 48°

Sept 9, 2011
Azimuth: 170°
Altitude: 60°

Sept 11, 2011
Azimuth: 112°
Altitude: 65°
(Full Moon)

Sept 15, 2011
Azimuth: 81°
Altitude: 32°
(in the process of a waning gibbous)

If anyone can clarify how to tell if it was before and after, I would be most appreciated.

He probably means did that phase of the moon occur before or after the moon crossed (transited) the central meridian for a particular location. The azimuth for the central meridian of a particular location is 180 degrees. You can get the information you need to answer these questions from these two sites - I'm assuming you are in the United States, but there world web-pages as well, but they are not exactly user friendly.

http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomic…

Here's an example:

"...U.S. Naval Observatory
Astronomical Applications Department


Sun and Moon Data for One Day
The following information is provided for Washington, District of Columbia (longitude W77.0, latitude N38.9):

Wednesday
5 October 2011 Eastern Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 6:41 a.m.
Sunrise 7:08 a.m.
Sun transit 12:57 p.m.
Sunset 6:45 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:12 p.m.

MOON
Moonrise 2:43 p.m. on preceding day