Q. What are the different
phases of the moon?
A.. Many people identify 8 different phases of the moon. Here they
are with a picture of what it might look like:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Moon |
Waxing
Crescent |
1st
Quarter |
Waxing
Gibbous |
Full
Moon |
Waning
Gibbous |
Last
Quarter |
Waning
Crescent |
|
|
Q. How long does it take the moon to
make one complete cycle?
A. About 29 1/2 days
Q. Is the phase of the moon different
at different places on earth?
A. No. The phase of the moon is determined by the relative positions of
the Earth, Moon and Sun, so it is the same for everyone on Earth.
Q. How can I find out when the Moon
rises? Is it related to its phase?
A. Yes. The full moon rises at about Sunset. Each night, it comes
up about 48 minutes later. The new moon is harder to see but it
rises around the same time as the Sun.
Q. Why does the Moon look full for so
long?
A. Because of the geometry of the way the light from the sun falls
on the moon and is Observed by us here on earth, the full Moon and New
moon seem to last longer than the other phases. But, in fact, the
moon is at any particular phase for just an instant, like 12:00 noon, it
happens and then it is past. This optical illusion probably
contributes to many myths about things being more likely to happen when
the Moon is full.
Q. But doesn't the Moon have any
effect on things on Earth?
A. Sure it does, a big one. The tug of the Moon and Sun can affect
the oceans, giving us the tides. The light of a full moon can be
very bright, affecting animal's (including people) hunting habits.
The full moon has been known to cause people to grab a sleeping bag,
bottle of wine, loved one, telescope, drawing pad, or any combination of
those items and head outside for a night under the Moon. That is
pretty powerful.
Q. What is a Blue Moon?
A. According to modern folklore, a Blue Moon is the second full moon in
a calendar month. Usually months have only one full moon, but
occasionally a second one sneaks in. Full moons are separated by 29
days, while most months are 30 or 31 days long; so it is possible to fit
two full moons in a single month. This happens every two and a half
years, on average.
Source: Moon
Phases
