Why can't you see the moon now? Space wonders: why is the moon visible during the day? Other meanings of the expression "young month"


Today at 12:00 the moon was clearly visible in the west for half an hour. Quite an unusual occurrence for the middle of the day and early September. In search of an answer, I re-read many articles on this topic, but everywhere there is 1 factor for the visibility of the moon in the daytime - the full moon, but now the period of the waning moon.


The scientific answer to the question of why the moon is visible during the day, I will give below, in short, it happens 2 times a year during the full moon.

Moon in the afternoon on a full moon (photo from the network)


The phenomenon of the visibility of the moon is actually observed in new moon. This happens for some reason. The side of the Moon, which is illuminated by the Sun, each time turns to the inhabitants of the Earth at a new angle, as a result of which a change in the lunar phases appears. This process is not affected by the Earth's shadow, except when the Moon is eclipsed during a full moon. This phenomenon happens twice a year..

During the new moon, the Moon and the Sun interact as follows: the Earth's satellite is aligned with the Sun, as a result of which the consecrated part of the Moon becomes invisible. After a day, it can be observed in the form of a narrow crescent, which gradually increases. Such a period is usually called the growing moon.

During the movement of the earth satellite along its orbit in the first quarter of the lunar cycle, the apparent distance of the Moon from the Sun begins to develop. A week after the onset of the new moon, the distance from the Moon to the Sun becomes exactly the same as the distance from the Sun to the Earth. At such a moment, a quarter of the lunar disk becomes visible. Further, the distance between the Sun and the satellite continues to grow, which is called the second quarter of the lunar cycle. At this point, the Moon is at its farthest point in its orbit from the Sun. Her phase at this point will be called the full moon.

In the third quarter of the lunar cycle, the satellite begins its reverse movement relative to the Sun, approaching it. The waning moon is again reduced to the size of a quarter of the disk. The lunar cycle ends with the satellite returning to its original position between the Sun and the Earth. At this moment, the illuminated part of the Moon completely ceases to be visible to the inhabitants of the planet.

In the first part of its cycle, the Moon appears in the morning above the horizon, along with the rising Sun, is at its zenith by noon and in the visible zone throughout the day before sunset. This pattern is usually observed in tropical and subtropical zones.

Thus, each appearance of the lunar disk depends on the phase in which the celestial body is at one time or another. In this regard, such concepts as a waxing or waning moon, as well as a blue moon, appeared.



09/06/2012 (west) 12.00


Well written, but today is September 6th, waning moon period!

Lunar day today - 20\21

09/05 21:22 - 09/06 21:51 (MSK)

Astrology

Lunar day today very interesting and mystical, the day of "high flight". Everyone gets a chance to look at the past month from a height, see something new, make some discoveries. The 20th lunar day should be devoted to understanding the internal connections between people, events, animate and inanimate nature. Today is the lunar day of the calendar- 20, and we have to understand that nothing happens by chance. Everything is natural and one follows from the other. The great sages of antiquity said "look not at things, but at the connections between them, and then the truth will be revealed to you." If you manage to take advantage of the opportunity provided, then today you will be able to comprehend a lot, and this will affect both your spiritual growth and material growth.

On the 20th lunar day Moon gives a lot of energy, and it must be directed, first of all, to change, to transform oneself. The main enemies lunar day today can act arrogance and high self-esteem. If you behave in this way, you can fall from a height very easily and the fall will not be pleasant. Avoid conflict. Today, a chain reaction is going on between friends, and, having heated up relations with one, this state will pass along the chain to others.

moon tonight gives us a great gift: she gives us the chance to turn from a slave to her fate into her master. IN moon day today It is easy to decide on what you used to be afraid of. Remove your fear and move on towards your dream. Today day of records and feats, everything undertaken will be a success.

Why is the Moon visible during the day?

The question remains open - why at 12.00 noon on 09/06/2012 in the west the rather impressive size of the Moon was clearly visible?

An interesting question was asked by a friend of mine in connection with the Moon in the daytime sky, - "If at 12 o'clock in the afternoon the Moon hangs with us, then it turns out where it is night - there is no Moon?"

We will listen with interest to the opinions of experts in these matters. Judging by the number of requests in the network "Why is the Moon visible during the day?", Your answers will be of interest to many.

As you know, the moon does not emit light, but only reflects it. And therefore in the sky only that side of it, which is illuminated by the Sun, is always visible. This side is called the day side. Moving across the sky from west to east, the Moon overtakes and overtakes the Sun during the month. There is a change in the relative position of the Moon, Earth and Sun. In this case, the sun's rays change the angle of incidence on the lunar surface and therefore the part of the Moon visible from the Earth changes. The movement of the moon across the sky is usually divided into phases that are directly related to its modification: new moon, young moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter.

Moon observations

The moon is a spherical celestial body. That is why, when it is partially illuminated by sunlight from the side, the appearance of a “sickle” appears. By the way, by the illuminated side of the Moon, you can always determine which side the Sun is on, even if it is hidden behind the horizon.

The duration of the complete change of all lunar phases is usually called the synodic month and it ranges from 29.25 to 29.83 Earth solar days. The duration of the synodic month varies due to the elliptical shape of the lunar orbit.

On the new moon, the disk of the Moon is absolutely invisible in the night sky, since at that time it is located as close as possible to the Sun and at the same time faces the Earth at night.

Next comes the new moon phase. During this period of time, for the first time in a synodic month, the Moon becomes visible in the night sky in the form of a narrow crescent and can be observed at dusk a few minutes before it sets.

Next comes the first quarter. This is the phase in which exactly half of its visible part is illuminated, as in the last quarter. The only difference is that in the first quarter, the proportion of the illuminated part at this moment increases.

The full moon is the phase in which the lunar disk is visible clearly and completely. During the full moon for several hours, you can observe the so-called opposition effect, in which the brightness of the lunar disk noticeably increases, while its size remains the same. This phenomenon is explained quite simply: for an earthly observer, at this moment all shadows on the surface of the Moon disappear.

There are also phases of the growing, waning and old moon. All of them are characterized by a very narrow crescent of the Moon, a greyish-ashy color typical of these phases.

From all of the above, we can conclude that, in fact, nothing obscures the Moon. It just changes the angle of its illumination by the sun's rays.

Sources:

  • Rituals for the full moon and the growing moon

Everyone knows that the success of an enterprise depends not only on the availability of all the necessary conditions and the psychological adjustment of people who are ready to get down to business. Success also depends on the right moment for the implementation of the case. The ancients always focused on the position of celestial bodies before embarking on any business. In particular, they paid attention to the phase of the moon.

You will need

  • - astrological magazines and websites;
  • - observation of the moon.

Instruction

Look into . This will be the most reliable way to determine the phase of the moon. Usually such calendars can be found on special sites or in the news (see the "Weather" section). Various publications for gardeners can also help. The moon helps gardeners choose the right day to plant flowers, vegetables or trees. It is believed that trees are best on the moon, because they will grow faster this way.

Use the method familiar to everyone since childhood. Determine the phase of the moon using the finger method. "Substitute" the index finger to the crescent. If the resulting figure forms the letter "P" (in the role of a "bow" a crescent), then the moon is growing. If the crescent moon is turned in the other direction and resembles the letter “C”, then the moon is waning. The method is suitable if you need to determine right now whether the moon is or is waning, but there is no opportunity to turn to the Internet or some kind of magazine: in front of you is only the sky and crescent.

Do not start new business on the waning moon. The position of the night star affects the daily activities of any person much more than the position of the Sun. Whenever you have some serious undertaking, pay attention to the phase of the moon. Choose the moment when it grows. But at the same time, there are situations in which the waning moon is favorable. “Underground” vegetables grow better, operations are also favorably resolved, all household chores are going well.

Analyze the dreams that you have at the stage when the moon is waning. You may dream of things that need to be completed. Pay attention to such dreams, use them as a guide for yourself. On the waning moon, dreams are often very emotional, imbued with a lyrical mood. This lunar phase provokes the active work of the nervous system. It is in this half of the month that a person (through feelings and emotions) comes up with solutions and answers that he could not find before, with the help of the mind.

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note

Engage in healing the body, taking into account the lunar phases. There are 4 of them. Carefully study the features of each to achieve the best healing effect.

Helpful advice

Pay attention to the meaning of lunar days, each of them is favorable for a certain type of activity.

Sources:

  • All about the lunar calendar
  • which moon is waxing or waning

The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth, the radius of which is about a quarter of the Earth's. At night, we see its disk, differently illuminated by the invisible Sun at that time. The degree of illumination depends on the relative position of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. In total, there are four degrees of illumination, which are called "phases".

The cycle of the lunar phases is repeated after about 30 days - more precisely, from 29.25 to 29.83 days. The line of illumination - the terminator - at the same time moves smoothly over the surface of the natural satellite of the Earth, but only four positions are accepted to be distinguished, referring all intermediate options to one of them. Therefore, it is believed that for each cycle there are four lunar phases, which are also called "quarters". You can visually determine which of the phases the Moon is in at the moment - there are simple mnemonic rules for this.

Each new cycle begins with a new moon - at the western edge of the visible disk on the first day a very narrow illuminated crescent is visible, and with each next its width increases. During this first phase of the cycle, as well as in the second following it, the Moon is called growing. If you conventionally draw a vertical line to the visible sickle, you get “P” - the first in “”. When the visible crescent of the natural satellite grows to half the disk in its widest part, the first phase will end and the second will begin - this happens after about 7.5 days. The second phase - or the second quarter - lasts the same amount and by the end of it, the entire visible disk of the Earth's satellite turns out to be luminous. On the last day of the second phase, the full moon sets in, and the natural satellite justifies the "night luminary" to the greatest extent.

The next two quarters of the Moon is called "waning" or "aging". During this period, her luminous area every night more and more resembles the letter "C" - the first in the word "aging". The process occurs in the reverse order - the width of the illuminated part of the disk decreases every night, and when only half of it remains, the third phase will end and the last one will begin. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Moon faces the Earth with its unlit side.

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The moon, or the month, as it is called in the common people, has always attracted a person, beckoned with its mystery, she and her ability to change size and shape were given mystical significance. The different phases of the moon have their own meaning in astrology, magic, religion, and science.

Being a night luminary, in fact, the Moon does not shine, and this has been proven many centuries ago. What a person sees in the sky at night is the reflection of the sun's rays from its surface. As the Moon moves in space relative to the Earth and the Sun, it changes its shape, going from waxing to waning. Each of the three phases of the visibility and glow of the Moon in astronomy and astrology corresponds to the calendar value of the lunar day. In mysticism and magic, these phases have their own names, they correspond to the rituals and beliefs allowed in a particular period. The lunar phases were not ignored by scientists from various fields, and they all interpreted its changes as the angle in which it is visible from the Earth.

How to determine the "age" of the month

Almost every person is fascinated by the night sky illuminated by the Moon, and he watches with interest the changes in the shape of this night star, but not everyone knows what phase the Moon is currently in and even have no idea about the “young month”.

There are many interpretations of this expression regarding the Moon. But, in essence, it means that the night luminary is just beginning to emerge from the shadow of the planet Earth, and only a small part of its surface is accessible to the rays of the Sun. During this period, only a thin semicircular strip with pointed edges turned to the left, in the form of a semicircle from the letter R, can be observed from the Earth.

In the religious concept, the new month symbolizes the beginning of a new period. The phase of the new month, according to church canons, is most successful for baptism, weddings, tonsure as monks, and taking vows.

In various astrological calendars, the young month promotes growth and formation, and it is during this period that it is best to change something in your life, for example, your place of work or residence. Even those held in the phase of the growing moon will bring the greatest benefit, and plant seeds planted in the soil will give friendly shoots that will bring a big harvest.

In magic, during the period of the birth of the month and its growth, various rituals are performed, conspiracies are read on the young moon for a love spell and improving the financial situation, and other magical actions are performed.

Other meanings of the expression "young month"

The growing Moon is very popular not only among astrologers, among fans of black or white magic and ministers of religion, but also among lyric poets. One can find many examples among the works of the classics, where the lover compared himself or the object of his passion with the new moon, or where the suffering from unrequited love shared his sorrows with the emerging moon.

In the common people, this epithet was awarded to beloved children, young talents, on whom great hopes were placed, as they called unusually beautiful young men and women.

Sources:

  • What is a young month
  • Three phases of the moon

As many have already noticed, the Moon is always turned to the Earth by the same side. The question arises: relative to each other, is the rotation around their axes of these celestial bodies synchronous?

Moon Facts:

Although the Moon rotates around its axis, it always faces the Earth with the same side, that is, the rotation of the Moon around the Earth and rotation around its own axis are synchronized. This synchronization is caused by the friction of the tides that the Earth produced in the shell of the Moon.

Another mystery: does the moon rotate on its axis at all? The answer to this question lies in resolving the semantic problem: who is at the forefront - an observer located on Earth (in this case, the Moon does not rotate around its axis), or an observer located in extraterrestrial space (then the only satellite of our planet rotates around its own axis). axes).

Let's conduct such a simple experiment: draw two circles of the same radius that are in contact with each other. Now imagine them as discs and mentally roll one disc around the edge of the other. In this case, the rims of the discs must be in continuous contact. So, how many times, in your opinion, will a rolling disk turn around its axis, making a complete revolution around a static disk. Most would say once. To test this assumption, let's take two coins of the same size and repeat the experiment in practice. And what is the result? A rolling coin has time to turn twice on its axis before making one revolution around a stationary coin! Surprised?

On the other hand, does a rolling coin rotate? The answer to this question, as in the case of the Earth and the Moon, depends on the frame of reference of the observer. Relative to the initial point of contact with a static coin, the moving coin makes one revolution. Relative to an outside observer, in one revolution around a fixed coin, a rolling coin rotates twice.

Following the publication of this problem about coins in Scientific American in 1867, the editors were literally inundated with letters from indignant readers who held the opposite opinion. They almost immediately drew a parallel between the paradoxes with coins and celestial bodies (the Earth and the Moon). Those who held the view that a moving coin has time to turn around its own axis once in one revolution around a stationary coin were inclined to think about the inability of the Moon to rotate around its own axis. The activity of readers regarding this problem has increased so much that in April 1868 it was announced that the controversy on this topic in the pages of Scientific American had ceased. It was decided to continue the debate in a magazine dedicated specifically to this "great" problem, The Wheel ("Wheel"). At least one issue is out. In addition to illustrations, it contained a variety of drawings and diagrams of intricate devices created by readers in order to convince the editors of their wrong.

Various effects generated by the rotation of celestial bodies can be detected using devices like the Foucault pendulum. If it is placed on the moon, it turns out that the moon, rotating around the earth, makes revolutions around its own axis.

Can these physical considerations act as an argument confirming the rotation of the Moon around its axis, regardless of the observer's frame of reference? Oddly enough, but from the point of view of general relativity, probably not. We can generally assume that the Moon does not rotate at all, it is the Universe that rotates around it, creating gravitational fields like the Moon rotating in a stationary space. Of course, it is more convenient to take the Universe as a fixed frame of reference. However, if you think objectively, with regards to the theory of relativity, the question of whether this or that object really rotates or rests is generally meaningless. Only relative motion can be "real".
To illustrate, imagine that the Earth and the Moon are connected by a bar. The bar is fixed on both sides rigidly in one place. This is a situation of mutual synchronization - one side of the Moon is visible from the Earth, and one side of the Earth is visible from the Moon. But we do not, so Pluto and Charon rotate. And we have a situation - one end is fixed rigidly on the Moon, and the other moves along the surface of the Earth. Thus, one side of the Moon is visible from the Earth, and different sides of the Earth are visible from the Moon.

Instead of a barbell, the force of attraction acts. And its “rigid mount” causes tidal phenomena in the body, which gradually either slow down or speed up the rotation (depending on whether the satellite rotates too fast or too slowly).

Some other bodies in the solar system are also already in such synchronization.

Thanks to photography, we can still see more than half of the surface of the moon, not 50% - one side, but 59%. There is a phenomenon of libration - the apparent oscillatory movements of the Moon. They are caused by irregular orbits (not perfect circles), tilts of the axis of rotation, tidal forces.

The Moon is in tidal lock on the Earth. Tidal capture - a situation when the period of revolution of the satellite (Moon) around its axis coincides with the period of its revolution around the central body (Earth). In this case, the satellite always faces the central body with the same side, since it rotates around its axis in the same time that it takes for it to turn around in orbit around its partner. Tidal capture occurs in the process of mutual motion and is characteristic of many large natural satellites of the planets of the Solar System, and is also used to stabilize some artificial satellites. When observing a synchronous satellite from the central body, only one side of the satellite is always visible. When viewed from this side of the satellite, the central body "hangs" motionless in the sky. From the reverse side of the satellite, the central body is never visible.

moon facts

There are lunar trees on Earth

Hundreds of tree seeds were brought to the moon during the 1971 Apollo 14 mission. Former USFS employee Stuart Roose took the seeds as a personal shipment for a NASA/USFS project.

Upon their return to Earth, these seeds were germinated, and the resulting lunar seedlings were planted throughout the United States, as part of the country's bicentennial celebrations in 1977.

There is no dark side

Place your fist on the table, fingers down. You see its back side. Someone on the other side of the table will see the knuckles. This is how we see the moon. Because it is tidally locked to our planet, we will always see it from the same vantage point.
The concept of the "dark side" of the Moon has come from popular culture - think of Pink Floyd's 1973 album "Dark Side of the Moon" and the 1990 thriller of the same name - and actually means the far, night side. The one that we never see and which is opposite to the side closest to us.

In the time span, we see more than half of the moon, thanks to libration

The Moon moves along its orbital path and moves away from the Earth (at a rate of about one inch per year), accompanying our planet around the Sun.
If you were to look at the Moon up close as it speeds up and slows down during this journey, you would also see it wobble from north to south and west to east in a motion known as libration. As a result of this movement, we see a part of the sphere that is usually hidden (about nine percent).

However, we will never see another 41%.

Helium-3 from the Moon could solve Earth's energy problems

The solar wind is electrically charged and occasionally collides with the Moon and is absorbed by the rocks on the lunar surface. One of the most valuable gases in this wind that are absorbed by the rocks is helium-3, a rare isotope of helium-4 (commonly used for balloons).

Helium-3 is perfect for meeting the needs of fusion reactors with subsequent power generation.

One hundred tons of helium-3 could supply the Earth's energy needs for a year, according to Extreme Tech's calculations. The surface of the moon contains about five million tons of helium-3, while on Earth it is only 15 tons.

The idea is this: we fly to the moon, extract helium-3 in a mine, collect it in tanks and send it to Earth. True, this can happen very soon.

Is there any truth to the full moon madness myths?

Not really. The assumption that the brain, one of the most watery organs of the human body, is influenced by the moon is rooted in legends that are several millennia old, going back to the time of Aristotle.

Since the Moon's gravitational pull controls the tides of Earth's oceans, and since humans are 60% water (and 73% brain), Aristotle and the Roman scientist Pliny the Elder believed that the Moon should have a similar effect on ourselves.

This idea gave rise to the terms "lunar madness", "transylvanian effect" (which became widespread in Europe during the Middle Ages) and "lunar madness". The films of the 20th century added fuel to the fire, linking the full moon with psychiatric disorders, car accidents, murders and other incidents.

In 2007, the government of the British seaside town of Brighton ordered more police patrols to be sent during full moons (and on paydays too).

Yet science says there is no statistical relationship between human behavior and the full moon, according to several studies, one of which was conducted by American psychologists John Rotton and Ivan Kelly. It is unlikely that the Moon affects our psyche, rather, it simply adds light, in which it is convenient to commit crimes.

Missing Moonstones

In the 1970s, the Richard Nixon administration distributed rocks brought from the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions to the leaders of 270 countries.

Unfortunately, more than a hundred of these stones have gone missing and are believed to have gone to the black market. While working for NASA in 1998, Joseph Gutheinz even led a covert operation called "Lunar Eclipse" to stop the illegal sale of these stones.

What was all this fuss about? A pea-sized piece of moon rock was valued at $5 million on the black market.

The moon belongs to Dennis Hope

At least he thinks so.

In 1980, using a loophole in the 1967 UN Space Property Treaty that "no country" can claim the solar system, Nevada resident Dennis Hope wrote to the UN and announced the right to private property. They didn't answer him.

But why wait? Hope opened a lunar embassy and began selling one-acre lots for $19.99 each. For the UN, the solar system is almost the same as the world's oceans: outside the economic zone and owned by every inhabitant of the Earth. Hope claimed to have sold off-world properties to celebrities and three former US presidents.

It is not clear whether Dennis Hope really does not understand the wording of the treaty, or whether he is trying to force the legislative forces to make a legal assessment of their actions so that the development of heavenly resources can begin under more transparent legal conditions.

Why is the Moon visible during the day? Two years ago, British sociologists, conducting a nationwide survey, found out that this particular question turned out to be the most difficult among the ten questions most often asked by children to their parents. Many adults were at a loss before the answer, which would suit little why and why.

In our view, the Earth's satellite is a "night luminary", illuminating the sky precisely in the dark. Why is it sometimes visible in the bright light of the sun? It is not easy even for an adult to explain this phenomenon, so we will try to make our answer as understandable as possible for representatives of any age category. The behavior of the moon is another of the fascinating phenomena of the universe.

What is tellurium for?

In order for a child to visualize the relative position of space objects, it is best to use a special device - tellurium.

Tellurium is a device that clearly demonstrates not only the annual movement of our planet around the Sun, but also rotation around its own axis. In more advanced models of the device, there is also a third planet - the Moon, which moves not only around its axis, but also around the Earth.

In general, the movement of the planets included in the "Sun - Earth - Moon" system is reduced to the following scheme: the Earth and the Moon, being satellites, move along the same trajectory passing around the Sun, located in the center of this system. The lunar disk, in turn, moving along with the Earth around the Sun, also rotates around its satellite - the Earth.

What can replace tellurium?

It is unlikely that tellurium is present in the household of every family, so an imitation of the system of planets of interest to us can be made from improvised items. The role of the Sun can be played by a large flashlight, for the Earth a large rubber ball is suitable, for its satellite - a ball whose diameter is five times smaller.

Rotation of cosmic bodies in the Sun - Earth - Moon system:

First, let the baby rotate the ball - "Moon" around the ball - "Earth". This will help him understand that the lunar disk invariably faces its companion with only one of its sides.

Now begin to rotate the ball imitating the Earth around the flashlight representing the Sun, remembering to rotate the "Earth" around its own axis.

Explain to your child that the complete revolution of the Earth around the Sun is a very slow process, taking 365 days, or a year. The night luminary, rotating around the Earth, does it much faster: one revolution around our planet takes a little more than 27 days.

Why does the "queen of the night" come out during the day?

Most people are convinced that the month can only be observed in the night sky (you can read about why you can’t look at the moon). This is a completely erroneous opinion, since the queen of the night is also visible during the day, only this happens on certain days of the cycle. This does not apply to rare astronomical phenomena. Why is the moon visible during the day?

And why do we rarely notice it?

In the daytime, in a sky brightly lit by the sun, the month is less noticeable, because it cannot compare with the brightness of the daylight, since it only reflects sunlight, and does not emit its own light. At this time of day, not a full disk is usually visible, but only an insignificant part of it, resembling a narrow sickle.

Most often, the "dark" luminary becomes noticeable before sunrise or sunset, and this is the time when we simply do not look at the sky.

In the tropics and subtropics, at the very beginning of its cycle, the Moon appears in the morning sky just above the horizon line, not far from the rising Sun. With the onset of noon, the disk is at its zenith and continues to be visible throughout the day, until sunset.

What are "lunar phases"?

The moon is a very unusual luminary that is constantly changing. Sometimes it disappears from the firmament, and after that it appears in the form of a thin sickle, called the moon. At some moments, it hangs in the sky all night and looks like a bright yellow bun. Why is this happening?

Such changes are explained by different degrees of illumination of the earth's satellite by the rays of the Sun, and different states of the disk - by phases. Some people mistakenly believe that the shadow cast by the Earth is the cause of the modifications. In fact, this is a phenomenon of a completely different order, called a lunar eclipse (you can get an explanation why the Moon is red).

Sometimes children ask why the moon became like a crescent? It's all about its spherical surface. With side illumination of the sphere, the crescent shape is simply inevitable. If the daylight hid behind the line of the sky, the part of the lunar sphere illuminated by its rays will always indicate exactly where it is located.

What are the phases of disc illumination?

The period during which the sun seems to disappear from the sky for a while is called the new moon. This is explained by the fact that, being at a point that visually coincides with the location of the Sun, it is turned towards the daylight with its brightly illuminated side.

The appearance of a silvery narrow crescent in the night sky marks the onset of the next phase - the new month. This happens about a day after the new moon.

A week later, when the earth's satellite moves away from the Sun so much that it is at an equal distance from both the Earth and the Sun, the next phase begins - the first quarter. At this moment, one of its halves is brightly illuminated.

The full moon looks very beautiful - the state when the disk is fully illuminated. After that, a gradual decrease begins.

The next phase of the cycle, falling on its third quarter, is called the waning moon.

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the disk marks the onset of the final quarter of the lunar cycle. At this stage, only half is illuminated again.

The phase of the old moon again shows us a narrow crescent.

What causes the sickle-disk change?

This phenomenon is due to the movement of the earth's satellite in orbit and the constant change in the relative position of the planets.

As a result, there is a constant movement of the terminator (the boundary separating the dark and illuminated parts of the night disk), which leads to a change in the configuration of the illuminated part of the Earth satellite. That is why every night an attentive astronomer will notice changes on the surface of the moon.

How to distinguish an old luminary from a growing one?

For the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere of the Earth, there is a very simple rule that allows you to instantly determine the difference.

    If the crescent formed resembles the letter "c", we have an aging Moon in front of us. If the crescent is turned in the opposite direction and, being provided with an imaginary dash, resembles the letter "r", young, that is, "growing".

    The young moon can be observed in the evening hours, and the old one in the morning.

This method is completely unsuitable for the inhabitants of lands located near the equator, since the lunar crescent in those parts invariably lies on its side.

Interesting Facts:

As a rule, there is one full moon every month, but due to the fact that the phase change occurs a little more than the number of months in a year, there is sometimes an additional full moon. This unique and very rare phenomenon, which occurs with a frequency of 2.7 years, is called the "blue moon".

The name does not indicate a change in the color of the night star. It is a translation of the English idiomatic expression, which is akin to the Russian "after rain on Thursday" and indicates the rarity and low probability of this phenomenon. The next blue moon (an extra full moon) will be visible on July 31, 2015.

Five years ago, analysts from one of Australia's leading banks published the results of their own research, according to which the dynamics of global financial market indices depend on the changing phases of the moon.

British Police Analysts have said that the level of violence is also directly related to the phases.

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