Have you ever wondered what causes the moon phases? We all know that its appearance changes over time. But why? The good way to understand the phases of the moon is to examine an earth-moon-sun diagram:

Diagram Explanation

The illustration may look a little complex at first, but it's easy to explain.

Sunlight is shown coming in from the right. The earth, of course, is at the center of the diagram. The moon is shown at 8 key stages during its revolution around the earth. The dotted line from the earth to the moon represents your line of sight when looking at the moon. To help you visualize how the moon would appear at that point in the cycle, you can look at the larger moon image. The moon phase name is shown alongside the image.

One important thing to notice is that exactly one half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun. Of course that is perfectly logical, but you need to visualize it in order to understand the phases. At certain times we see both the sunlit portion and the shadowed portion -- and that creates the various moon phase shapes we are all familiar with. Also note that the shadowed part of the moon is invisible to the naked eye; in the diagram above, it is only shown for clarification purposes.

So the basic explanation is that the lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits the earth.

Moon Phases Simplified

It's probably easiest to understand the moon cycle in this order: new moon and full moon, first quarter and third quarter, and the phases in between.

As shown in the above diagram, the new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun. The three objects are in approximate alignment (why "approximate" is explained below). The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see.

At a full moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignment, just as the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, so the entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view.

The first quarter and third quarter moons (both often called a "half moon"), happen when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun. So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow.

Once you understand those four key moon phases, the phases between should be fairly easy to visualize, as the illuminated portion gradually transitions between them.

An easy way to remember and understand those "between" lunar phase names is by breaking out and defining 4 words: crescent, gibbous, waxing, and waning. The word crescent refers to the phases where the moon is less that half illuminated. The word gibbous refers to phases where the moon is more than half illuminated. Waxing essentially means "growing" or expanding in illumination, and waning means "shrinking" or decreasing in illumination.

Thus you can simply combine the two words to create the phase name, as follows:

After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half, so it is waxing crescent. After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is still increasing, but now it is more than half, so it is waxing gibbous. After the full moon (maximum illumination), the light continually decreases. So the waning gibbous phase occurs next. Following the third quarter is the waning crescent, which wanes until the light is completely gone -- a new moon.

The Moon's Orbit

You may have personally observed that the moon goes through a complete moon phases cycle in about one month. That's true, but it's not exactly one month. The synodic period or lunation is exactly 29.5305882 days. It's the time required for the moon to move to the same position (same phase) as seen by an observer on earth. If you were to view the moon cycling the earth from outside our solar system (the viewpoint of the stars), the time required is 27.3217 days, roughly two days less. This figure is called the sidereal period or orbital period. Why is the synodic period different from the sidereal period? The short answer is because on earth, we are viewing the moon from a moving platform: during the moon cycle, the earth has moved approximately one month along its year-long orbit around the sun, altering our angle of view with respect to the moon, and thus altering the phase. The earth's orbital direction is such that it lengthens the period for earthbound observers.

Although the synodic and sidereal periods are exact numbers, the moon phase can't be precisely calculated by simple division of days because the moon's motion (orbital speed and position) is affected and perturbed by various forces of different strengths. Hence, complex equations are used to determine the exact position and phase of the moon at any given point in time.

Also, looking at the diagram (and imagining it to scale), you may have wondered why, at a new moon, the moon doesn't block the sun, and at a full moon, why the earth doesn't block sunlight from reaching the moon. The reason is because the moon's orbit about the earth is about 5 degrees off from the earth-sun orbital plane.

However, at special times during the year, the earth, moon, and sun do in fact "line up". When the moon blocks the sun or a part of it, it's called a solar eclipse, and it can only happen during the new moon phase. When the earth casts a shadow on the moon, it's called a lunar eclipse, and can only happen during the full moon phase. Roughly 4 to 7 eclipses happen in any given year, but most of them minor or "partial" eclipses. Major lunar or solar eclipses are relatively uncommon.

Moon Software

If you want to follow the phases of the moon, you should definitely take a look at QuickPhase Pro, software for your personal computer. This attractive and fun software covers thousands of years of past and future moon phases and is easy to use.

Almost everyone is aware of the role that gravity plays in our lives. Not only does it keep our feet planted firmly on the ground, but it also keeps order in the solar system. The gravitational forces associated with the Sun and the planets interact to describe the orbits that we are familiar with, as well as keep the Moon trapped in orbit around the Earth. These forces aren't only limited to managing the dynamics of the celestial bodies, however. Gravity also has a more directly observable influence on our planet. Specifically, gravitational forces are responsible for the rise and fall of the ocean's tides all over the world.

The two primary agents when it comes to the motion of the ocean are the Sun and the Moon. Since the gravitational influence of an object is directly related to its mass, the Sun has a definite advantage over the moon when it comes to the strength of its forces. However, since the Sun is over 380 times farther away from the Earth than the Moon, the smaller mass in orbit around us is able to exert its effects on us much more strongly than the star.

The key when it comes to understanding how the tides work is to understand the relationship between the motion of our planet and its moon. Both the Moon and the Earth are constantly moving through space. Since the Earth spins on its own axis, water is kept balanced on all sides of the planet through centrifugal force. The Moon's gravitational forces are strong enough to disrupt this balance by accelerating the water towards the Moon. This causes the water to 'bulge.' The Earth's rotation causes a sympathetic bulge on the opposite side of the planet as well. The areas of the Earth where the bulging occurs experience high tide, and the others are subject to a low tide. However, the Moon's movement around the Earth means that the effects of its forces are in motion as well, and as it encircles our planet, this bulge moves with it.

The height of the tides can vary during the course of a month, due to the fact that the Moon is not always the same distance from the Earth. As the Moon's orbit brings it in closer proximity to our planet (closest distance within a moon cycle is called perigee), its gravitational forces can increase by almost 50%, and this stronger force leads to high tides. Likewise, when the Moon is farther away from the Earth (furthest distance is called apogee), the tides are not as spectacular.

The Moon's influence can also be balanced out by the position of the Sun – if the Sun and the Moon find themselves 90 degrees apart in relation to an observer on the Earth, then high tides are not as high as they normally would be. This is because despite its greater distance from the planet, the Sun's mass allows it to exert enough gravitational force on the oceans that it can negate some of the effects of the Moon's pull. This phenomenon of lower high tides is called a neap tide. In the same way, when the Sun lines up with the Moon and the Earth, as during a Full Moon, then the Sun can act to amplify the tidal forces, drawing even higher tides. These are known as spring tides, named not for the season, but for the fact that the water "springs" higher than normal. The variance in the height of the world's tides also depends on the local geography of the coastline and the topography of the ocean floor.

Tides occur regularly in the sense that they can be expected twice a day, but their periods do not coincide with the 24 hour day that we use for our calendar. This is because the Moon takes slightly longer than 24 hours to line up again exactly with the same point on the Earth - about 50 minutes more. Therefore, the timing of high tides is staggered throughout the course of a month, with each tide commencing approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes later than the one before it.

You may have heard references made to the "dark side" of the Moon. This popular, although somewhat inaccurate term refers to the fact that only one face of the Moon, the "near side", is visible to us. The dark side or far side is permanently rotated away from our planet.

Why is this the case? We all know that the Earth rotates on its own axis, so theoretically, the Moon should also do the same, allowing us to get a full picture of the planetoid. Why are we limited to seeing only 50 percent? It turns out that the speed at which the Moon rotates has lead to this particular phenomenon. Millions of years ago, the Moon spun at a much faster pace than it does now. However, the gravitational influence of the Earth has gradually acted upon the Moon to slow its rotation down, in the same way that the much smaller gravitational influence of the Moon acts upon the Earth to create tides. This influence slowed the rotational period of the Moon to match that of its orbit – about 29.5 days – and it is now "locked in" to this period.

If the Moon didn't spin at all, then eventually it would show its far side to the Earth while moving around our planet in orbit. However, since the rotational period is exactly the same as the orbital period, the same portion of the Moon's sphere is always facing the Earth.

Another interesting fact is that actually a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface is observable from Earth. Since the Moon's orbit is elliptical, and not circular, the speed of its orbital travel increases and decreases depending on how close it is to our planet. The rotational speed of the Moon is constant however – and this difference between orbital speed and rotational speed means that when the Moon is farthest from the Earth, its orbital speed slows down just enough to allow its rotational speed to overtake it, giving observers a small glimpse of the usually hidden area. The term for this "rocking" motion of the Moon is called libration and it allows for 59 percent of the Moon to be seen in total (over time).

Finally, the reason that the far side of the Moon is frequently referred to as the "dark side" is because many people mistakenly think that it never sees any light from the sun. This notion results from a misinterpretation of the fact that it is never illuminated so that it can be observed from Earth. In fact, since the Moon is constantly rotating on its own axis, there is no area of the planetoid which is in permanent darkness, and the far side of the Moon is only completely devoid of sunlight during a Full Moon – when the Sun is facing the Moon with the Earth in between.

There are many interesting facts about the moon and trivia that may or may not be important to you. Some interesting facts include:

• We all know there was a man on the moon, but did you know that there is one who stayed there? Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, a Geological Surveyor, who educated the Apollo mission astronauts about craters, never made it into space himself, but it had always been one of his dreams. He was rejected as an astronaut because of medical problems. After he died, his ashes were placed on board the Lunar Prospector spacecraft on January 6, 1999, which was crashed into a crater on the moon on July 31, 1999. The mission was to discover if there was water on the moon at the time, but it also served to fulfill Dr Shoemaker's last wish.
  
  
• When Neil Armstrong took that historical step of "one small step for man one giant step for mankind" it would not have occurred to anyone that the step he took in the dust of the moon was there to stay. It will be there for at least 10 million years.
  
  
• When Alan Sheppard was on the moon, he hit a golf ball and drove it 2,400 feet, nearly one half a mile.
  
  
• In a survey conducted in 1988, 13% of those surveyed believed that the moon is made of cheese.
  
  
• The multi layer space suits worn by the astronauts to the moon weighed 180 pounds on earth, but thirty pounds on the moon due to the lower gravity.
  
  
• How close can you get without completely running out of gas? Apollo 11 had only 20 seconds of fuel left when they landed on the moon.
  
  
• Apollo 15 was the first mission to use a lunar rover. The top speed that was ever recorded in this 4-wheeled land vehicle was 10.56 miles per hour.
  
  
• It is possible to have a month without a full moon. This occurs in February, but either January or March will have two moons.
  
  
• In China, the dark shadows that are on the moon are called "the toad in the moon".
  
  
• The Apollo missions brought back 2196 rock samples weighing 382 kg in total

Facts About the Moon

• The moon is not a planet, but a satellite of the Earth.
  
  
• The surface area of the moon is 14,658,000 square miles or 9.4 billion acres
  
  
• Only 59% of the moon's surface is visible from earth.
  
  
• The moon rotates at 10 miles per hour compared to the earth's rotation of 1000 miles per hour.
  
  
• When a month has two full moons, the second full moon is called a blue moon. Another definition of a blue moon is the third full moon in any season (quarter of year) containing 4 total full moons.
  
  
• From Earth, we always see the same side of the moon; the other side is always hidden.
  
  
• The dark spots we see on the moon that create the image of the man in the moon are actually craters filled with basalt, which is a very dense material.
  
  
• The moon is the only extraterrestrial body that has ever been visited by humans. It is also the only body that has had samples taken from it.
  
  
• The first space craft to send back pictures from the moon was Luna 3 (built by the Soviet Union) in October 1959.
  
  
• The moon has no global magnetic field.
  
  
• The moon is about 1/4 the size of the Earth.

The Apollo missions brought the moon closer to us. Reaching the moon was an unattainable dream until 1969 when a space mission put the first man on the moon. At the time there were many that were skeptical but the creators of the Apollo missions were not. They had been working toward putting a man on the moon for a very long time and worked vigorously until the dream became reality. Although there were small successes and many failures, July 1969, was the crowning moment.

The Early Years

The early years of the Apollo program were a race to be the first nation to reach the moon. Even so, the intention of these missions was for peaceful purposes to gain useful knowledge about the moon and space in general. Every launch was a learning experience, including the failures. After the Soviet Union landed an unmanned probe on the moon (Luna 2), NASA speeded up their efforts. The success of the Apollo missions helped NASA to grow from the baby stages, eventually becoming the first to successfully land a man on the moon.

Apollo - Successes

The Apollo program grew out of the imagination of the engineers and others who had the foresight of believing that man could leave the Earth's atmosphere and actually land on the surface of the moon. Due to this, the Apollo missions continued their quest with the support of the people and the government with Apollo growing in its ideas as well as its stature.

On July 20th, 1969 the Apollo dream became a reality when Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon. Of course the price for this success was marred with failures that preceded this event such as the deaths of some astronauts in Apollo 1.

Just The Beginning

In our quest for space there have been things that have totally amazed us. Before 1969 we didn't believe that that any attempt to land on the moon could ever succeed. Although the Apollo missions ended with the safe return of Apollo 17 on December 19, 1972, there is no doubt the program has influenced and inspired generations of people interested in human exploration of space.

On July 16th, 1969 Apollo 11 was the spacecraft that carried the first men to the moon. There were several success stories before the success of this mission in the history of trying to get spacecrafts to the moon. Prior to this mission, Apollo 8, 9 and 10 came close, but it was Apollo 11 that accomplished the once impossible dream of actually landing the first man on the moon.

Beginning the Journey of Apollo 11

On July 16th, 1969 Neil Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11, Michael Collins, command module pilot, and Edwin " Buzz" Aldrin, the lunar module pilot, were picked up at Kennedy Space Center and loaded into a van and taken to the spacecraft for the beginning of their historic journey. At Apollo 11 they prepared for the ride of their lives with all the world watching. Liftoff occurred at 9:37 a.m. and with 7.5 million pounds of thrust from the Saturn V rocket, Apollo 11 was on its way to a dream. In just 12 minutes the astronauts were 120 miles above earth speeding at 17,400 mph. The mission of was to last four days with a landing on the moon.

One Step Away From the Dream

The module "Eagle" separated from Apollo 11 and started to touch down, but the initial landing site was a crater with boulders. Armstrong saw this and maneuvered the Eagle around to a smooth landing in a suitable spot. This caused a bit of concern to the crew of Apollo 11 and the people of NASA who were waiting on the ground because fuel was running really low. Armstrong did land in a suitable spot not far away from the original place, hence the saying "the Eagle has landed." where a loud cheer erupted from the control tower and Collins, who was waiting in Apollo 11.

Apollo 11 - The Final Reality

When the landing was complete, the astronauts made sure everything was in place for lift off back to Apollo 11 before they went onto the moon. When they had readied themselves, Neil Armstrong went first releasing the ladder that would take him to the bottom and to the final step of putting a man on the moon. After 21.5 hours on the moon they reconnected with the spacecraft and returned safely to earth on July 24th. This would not be the last time that this trip would be made, but no matter how many trips that were to come it would never compare to the first step made on the moon. Apollo 11 will be remembered forever in the pages of history.

The moon landing hoax controversy is still evident after 36 years. On July 20th, 1969 our lives changed forever. This was not due to any disastrous event that took place here on Earth, but an amazing event that took place in the heavens, when the first man walked on that wondrous thing people had gazed at and wondered about for centuries - the moon. Our world was changing at that time in leaps and bounds. It was a time of endless possibilities. Many people think of this as a moon landing hoax or the first man on the moon hoax. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, some people still believe that the landing of a man on the moon was a trick of television.

Shadows on the Moon

One of the arguments from skeptics to substantiate the moon landing hoax theory involves the shadows that illuminated from the lunar surface when the pictures that were sent back to us. They argue that if this is not a hoax, why is it that facts about the moon state there are no shadows in space. This argument about this moon landing hoax comes from believers that feel the sun is the only source of light in the universe. When you think of the moon, you must consider that the sun is not the only source of light on the moon and that the lunar surface reflects its own light which illuminates all things on the surface. Therefore there is no credence in the theory of a moon landing hoax.

The Fluttering Flag

Another part of the moon landing hoax theory deals with the American flag. The picture that was sent back showed this flag fluttering as in a wind. Some believers in the moon landing hoax feel that this was proof that this picture had been taken on earth and not the result of a moon landing. The fact that the flag flutters in the wind when there is no wind on the moon could lend some degree of credibility to the belief that this was a hoax. However, experts, in an attempt to defend the landing against the moon landing hoax theory explained that a vacuum has no friction. On the moon things don't stop moving as quickly as they do on Earth, so when the astronauts got the flag attached to the surface and straightened, it stayed there longer than what we are accustomed to. Hence the picture was taken with the flag waving is proof that the moon landing hoax theory is incorrect.

Driving the Rover

The pictures of the astronauts driving the Rover also proved to many that this was a moon landing hoax However, the projection of the speed of a film showing the astronauts driving in the moon proves that it really did happen. There were no clouds of dust rinsing from the tires of the Rover because moon dust returns directly to the surface. Therefore it was not possible back in 1969 to have this type of controlled environment in which to display a moon landing hoax.

Here is one moon phase activity school teachers can do with younger students. In science classes the moon is a favorite topic because observing the moon can be a fun learning experience for students.

Instructional Objective: Students will understand the different phases of the moon and/or study the moon's surface

Time: 29 nights to view a complete moon cycle, or just one or two observing sessions for younger kids to examine and appreciate the moon

For this activity, children will need a notebook, a drawing pencil, and a clear night sky to see the moon. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will be fun to look through, to better see the moon's surface, but it is not required. If you choose to do this moon phases lesson on only one night, it will help to know ahead of time when the moon will be visible and in a good viewing phase. You can find this information in various places online. Many everyday calendars include the main four quarters of the moon.

The best time to view the actual surface of the moon is of course during a full moon. All the craters and patterns are viewable. The crescent and quarter moon phases are also a good time to view the surface because the craters and mountains cast shadows, adding definition.

Simple Instructions for Students: To complete the activity, record the date, write a brief description of how much of the moon you see and draw a picture of it. Take your pencil and draw in the dark areas and light areas. To see more detail, you can use binoculars, or a telescope with the help of your parents.

Learning the Moon Phases: Each day as students draw in the differing amounts of the moon that they can see, they start to develop a series of drawings showing all the different phases of the moon. At the end of a 29 day cycle, when they all bring their charts and notebooks back to class, the teacher can generate a discussion of why this moon phase activity occurs (also see moon phases lesson plan). This can lead into learning the different names for each phase, such as waxing moon and crescent moon. The students can compare their drawings with a moon calendar for that month and determine whether they were correct. This in turn can lead into predictions of when the various moon phases will occur during the following month.

Astrological moon signs (or "signs of the Zodiac") are just as important as Sun signs, but not everyone pays attention to them. Moon signs are the next most planetary placement in a person's horoscope chart and are the moving cycle in the chart that helps define our emotions and make up the unconscious side of our personality. This is the place where we go to find comfort, peace and childhood memories. These signs also have an affect on our senses, such as sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. They are all connected to our subconscious memories and affect us differently than the Sun's Zodiac signs.

The twelve Zodiac moon signs can be divided into four groups: air, fire, earth and water.

Air - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius

The astrological moon signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are a little different from the Sun signs because they deal with the emotions and feelings of a person. For instance, Gemini likes to acquire as much information as they can about a given situation and let others know what they have learnt. Their moon sign makes them avid talkers to get their feelings known. Libra's can please and appease. People born under this astrological moon sign have a deep feeling to be accepted. Aquarius' think first then verbalize to come to a good understanding.

Fire - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius have their own way of reacting to their feelings when the moon is in the fire sign. Aries are:

• very self assured
• sure of their own actions
• trust in other peoples competence
• For Leo, they make those under this sign attention seekers that tend to dramatize, but they are very deeply passionate when expressing emotion. For Sagittarians, their astrology moon sign tends to make them move around and explore. They also tend to take their own feelings and apply them to religion.
  

  Earth - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

  The Zodiac signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn go through different emotions. Taurus, when in their astrological moon sign, will try to defuse unwelcome situations because they like calm. Virgoans are organizers; they also like to find out what is going on by engaging in activities while determining what's happening. Those under the moon sign of Capricorn tend to control emotions. They tend to keep their feelings to themselves, making this the most complicated sign of all.

  
  

  Water - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

  For the astrological moon signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces emotional expression becomes a must. Their sign makes them wants to take care and be taken care of. Their free expression of emotions becomes extremely important. While those in the moon sign of Scorpio can hold resentment for a lifetime if their emotions are not released, Pisces has a caring and tenderness and helps other people in need.

The term "moon cycle" (or "lunar cycle") refers to the moon's continuous orbit around the earth. As the moon orbits the earth, its appearance (the "phase") changes and thus gives us an indication of the moon's progress in the cycle (the "age").

The sun always illuminates exactly one-half of the moon, but we see it at different angles as it rotates around the earth. With the naked eye, we can see only the part of the moon that the sun is illuminating. For instance, a crescent moon is what we call the moon when we see only a small portion of its illuminated surface.

We give the parts of the moon cycle different names, according to how the moon appears to us. In order of appearance:

1. New (also called the Dark Moon) - not visible
   
2. Waxing Crescent
   
3. First Quarter - commonly called a "half moon"
   
4. Waxing Gibbous
   
5. Full - we can see the entire illuminated portion of the moon
   
6. Waning Gibbous
   
7. Third Quarter - another "half moon", but the illuminated part is opposite of the First Quarter
   
8. Waning Crescent
   
9. New - back to the beginning
   

This complete lunar cycle (New Moon to New Moon) is also called a "lunation". During this time the moon will completely circle the earth. That's the scientific definition, but you can take any phase; for instance a so-called "full moon cycle" would be from Full Moon to Full Moon.

Astrology and the Lunar Cycle

Aside from the scientific explanation, the term "moon cycle" is often heard in astrological circles. According to astrology, the moon's cycle can affect the way we feel about things. In particular, when the moon is full or new, both males and females can experience dramatic changes in their mood and behavior.

When the moon is full, stress becomes a major factor and people become more sensitive to details. An overload of work will add to the frustration and people will deal with their own needs rather than paying attention to others' needs. Often, a lack of assertiveness will be obvious.

A new moon brings with it the sense of calmness. In this moon cycle, people's emotions get back to normal, their determination will return with the feeling that anything can be accomplished, and there will be more energy and acceptance of other other's ideas.

A lunar eclipse can take three different forms:

• A penumbral eclipse is when the moon passes through the Earth's penumbral shadow, but this is very difficult to see.
• A partial lunar eclipse occurs when a portion of the moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. This is easy to see and can be viewed by the naked eye without any danger of damage to the eye whatsoever.
• A total lunar eclipse occurs when the whole moon disappears as it passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. This is when the moon emits very different vibrant colors which are breathtakingly beautiful.

Watching Beauty In Action

Seeing a lunar eclipse depends on your location. When it is very visible in one part of the world, it can't be see in other parts. Only where it is night can you see the wonderful display of the eclipse. Such a phenomenon is very safe to watch. It is not even necessary to use a telescope and when you watch what a treat you are in for! The colors range from deep browns, very dark grays, various shades of brilliant reds and many shades of bright oranges. As the moon passes, these colors vary depending on the amount of dust in the Earth's atmosphere. If you are lucky enough to witness this spectacular show of beauty, the chances of seeing the same thing twice is pretty remote.

A lunar eclipse is a rare event because it doesn't happen on a monthly basis. It only happens when the moon is in direct alignment with the Earth and the Sun. The sun and the moon are actually on opposite sides of the Earth. Most of the time the moon is tilted in respect to the Earth's orbit and passes either above or below the line where all three celestial bodies are in a straight line. It is only about every six months that conditions may be right for a lunar eclipse.

Don't Miss the Next Show

Depending on where you live on this Earth, look up the time of the next eclipse in your area. Usually it is announced on the radio or television giving people ample time to enjoy the thrill of watching the Earth block out the moon with the most brilliant display. It is an amazing sight to see. For a closer look, use a telescope to bring the eclipse a little more up close and personal.

A "lunar eclipse" and a "solar eclipse" refer to events involving three celestial bodies: the Sun ("solar"), the moon ("lunar"), and the Earth. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, and the Earth's shadow obscures the moon or a portion of it. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or a portion of the Sun.

An eclipse can be total, partial, or annular. A total solar eclipse is when the moon blocks out the Sun entirely, a partial eclipse is when it blocks out a portion of the Sun, and an annular eclipse is when the moon is at its furthest point in orbit. It will not cover the Sun completely that's when you can see a thin ring of light emerging from the outside rim of the moon.

How are a lunar eclipse and solar eclipse different?

A lunar eclipse occurs at night and a solar eclipse occurs during the day. There are only certain times when either of them can occur. A lunar eclipse can only occur when the moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky — a full moon. Even though there is a full moon each month, obviously a lunar eclipse does not occur on a monthly basis because the Sun isn't exactly in line with the Earth and the moon. The moon's orbit is actually tilted 5 degrees more than that of the Earth; otherwise, we would see a lunar eclipse each month.

We can see lunar eclipses more readily than solar eclipses, and it has to do with proximity. The Moon is much closer to the Earth (well over 300 times closer than the Sun!), so the Earth has a much greater chance of blocking sunlight to the Moon, compared to the Moon blocking light from the Sun. Also, a lunar eclipse can be seen from a greater portion of the Earth. Solar eclipses, on the other hand, are more rare and when they do happen can only be seen by a very narrow segment of people on Earth, for a short period of time.

It is quite safe to watch a lunar eclipse with the naked eye, while watching a solar eclipse without eyewear protection can seriously damage your eyesight. You can use a telescope to get a clearer view of the moon during an eclipse and really see what is happening.

A solar eclipse has always had a more profound effect on humans than a lunar eclipse. This is probably because of the importance of the Sun to all life on Earth. In ancient China, a solar eclipse was thought to be the dragon coming to eat the Sun. The effect that an eclipse has on all life on Earth is of particular interest to scientists. They eagerly await a solar eclipse because it helps them to gather more knowledge about the Sun and its position with respect to Earth.

Apogee and perigee refer to the distance from the Earth to the moon. Apogee is the furthest point from the earth. Perigee is the closest point to the earth and it is in this stage that the moon appears larger. Looking at the moon in the sky without anything to compare it to, you wouldn't notice any size difference. But the difference in size can in fact be quite significant.

If you were to photograph a full moon at apogee and perigee (using the same lens), here's how the two sizes would compare:

Astronomers have formulas for computing the exact distance at any point in time, but the average distance from Earth is 237,700 miles (382,500 km).

Effects of Apogee and Perigee

The apogee and perigee of the moon have a definite affect on the weather and tides here on Earth. When the moon is at Apogee, the furthest distance from the Earth, it has less gravitational pull. Weather conditions can be more stable and the tides more predictable. When the moon is at perigee, closer to the Earth, there is much more gravitational pull and it can whip up the tides and cause weather to become more unstable.

What Is Earthshine?

Earthshine is a soft, faint glow on the dark side of the moon caused by the reflection of sunlight from the Earth.

Specifically, Earthshine happens when the light from the sun is reflected from the Earth's surface, to the moon, and then back to our eyes. Because of this double reflection of light, Earthshine is many, many times dimmer than the direct light of the sun on the moon. Earthshine is even more faint because the moon's "albedo" (a specific kind of reflectivity) is less than Earth's. Even though this dim light is only a reflection it can still illuminate some features of the moon.

Earthshine can be best seen during the crescent phases (the 1-5 day period before or after a New Moon). During this time the sun is mostly behind the moon from our perspective and bathing the Earth in a lot of direct light that is reflected onto the shadowed parts of the moon.

Moons orbiting other planets can also experience this phenomenon, generally called "planetshine".

A harvest moon occurs at a specific time of the year. The moon officially turns full when it reaches the spot opposite to the sun. The harvest moon happens on 13:59 Greenwich time on the Saturday nearest to the fall equinox, which is September 23rd. Once in every three years we get the same full moon in October, but the one in September is called the harvest moon because farmers can continue their harvest late into the night by the light of the full moon. The same moon appears three days in succession, but the one that appears on Saturday is the one that receives this name.

Other names for this moon are the Wine Moon, the Elk Call Moon and the Singing Moon. It received the name of harvest moon because it appears in the Northern Hemisphere at the time of the year that coincides with the harvesting of crops.

It's For The Birds

During a harvest moon there are other advantages for the bird lovers of our planet. This is the perfect time to watch the birds migrate past the light that emits from the moon. Some studies have proven that birds rely on the Harvest moon to migrate from one area to another. They have also proven that the birds wait for this moon to begin their migration.

Gazing Upon a Harvest Moon

The moon during the year rises about 50 minutes later each day, but near autumn equinox the time shortens to 30 minutes. Some years there is an extra treat for moon watchers when they do their gazing between dusk and dawn. Wildfires in North America and dust storms in Africa sometimes fill our air with aerosols. A low hanging harvest moon can give an array of colors that is not usually seen. There is also an added treat to watching a harvest moon. This is called moon illusion because the rising or setting moon looks bigger than when it does high in the sky.

The saying "once in a blue moon" has nothing to do with color. Instead it refers to the relatively rare occurance of what is called a "blue moon". (However, an actual blue-colored moon could occur from atmospheric effects such as a big forest fire on Earth causing a lot of haze. This has happened in the past!)

The definition of a Blue Moon has changed over the years (see below). However, the commonly accepted definition of a Blue Moon is simple: it is a full moon that rises twice in one month. Due to our calendar days, sometimes the days of the month are less than the cycle of the moon, which is 29.5 days. This can cause the moon to rise twice in one month, near the first and the last days of the same month. It is said that blue moons happen every 33 months or about every 3 years. This relatively rare occurance has spawned the saying "once in a blue moon".

A Blue Moon cannot happen in February because the calendar month never has enough days. Furthermore, sometimes the occurance of a blue moon depends on your time zone. During 1993 a blue moon occurred in either in August or September depending on where you lived. If you lived east of the line that runs through the Atlantic Ocean, the blue moon occurred in September, but west of that line it occurred in August.

Origins of The Definition of a Blue Moon

A year can be divided into quarters, or seasons. In most years, each season contains 3 full moons. Just as the lunar cycle causes some months to have 2 full moons, some seasons will have an extra full moon. The Farmer's Almanac called the third full moon of any season containing four in total a "Blue Moon".

In 1946, an article in the magazine Sky and Telescope declared the second full moon in the same month to be a "Blue Moon" in reference to information that the article's author claimed to have found in an edition of the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. However, almost 60 years later, another writer for the same magazine discovered the mistake. As a result, for almost half a century, the modern use of the term ‘Blue Moon’ has proceeded from the mistaken interpretation of a not-so-accurate farmer’s almanac.

Note that a season isn't exactly a quarter of a year. It is slightly altered because of the archaic Christian ecclesiastical calendar. This was the calendar used by the Christian church to determine the exactly date for certain holidays such as Easter, and it did not use the same lunar cycle that modern science recognizes.

Upcoming Blue Moon Dates

1999 January & March
2001 October & November
2004 July
2007 May
2009 December
2012 August
2015 July
2018 January & March
2020 October

Trading by the Light of the Moon

by Vincent Troncone

For Millennia the Moon has been thought to have considerable effect on Life here on Planet Earth, Especially as it relates to humans. Now to some that may seem like some kind esoteric idea or mysticism but it may be more scientific then you think.

Considering our bodies are largely made up of water this idea isn't so far fetched. We can see the Lunar Effects on the Tides here on Earth and how powerful they are but that is not the only area affected in my opinion.

"So," you may ask, "Why is a guy who invests in the market writing an article about the moon?" Good question!

In my research, I have found what appears to be a direct correlation between the primary phases of the moon and the points at which any given, freely-traded market will reverse direction. To say the least, this phenomenon is quite amazing and has nothing to do with astrology and everything to do with astronomy and physics.

The cycle of the moon from new moon to new moon is called the synodic cycle. It is 29.5 days in length.

This cycle, although invisible, appears to have quite an effect on the markets. I would venture to say: Not only is the moon involved but other planetary bodies in our solar system as well.

Think of our Solar System as nothing more than a big Clock. Everything we do here on Earth is based on Cycles. Our method of keeping time and our Calendar is all based on the relationship of the Sun Earth and Moon and how long it takes for the bodies to move a certain distance in a certain time. Even our Seasons change as a result of these relationships.

I am not a Scientist or claiming to be one so lets move on to the empirical evidence.

Personal Observation

It has been my personal observation that specific phases of the moon appear to have a direct effect on when any given freely traded market will reverse direction on a Daily Chart.

A reversal, as defined for the purposes of this article, is when the current daily price bar close is below the previous day price bar close when the market is trending up. Or, a reversal is when the market is trending down and the current daily price bar close is above the previous day price bar close.

The lunar phases I'm talking about here are the new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter. Each time I tested this concept, it worked equally well for each market tested within the defined tolerances I have also outlined here.

Another thing to consider is that Market Price moves in a Circle rather than up and down. Consider this, from New Moon to New Moon is 360 Degrees isn't it? Which would mean each Quarter Phase is equivalent to 90 Degrees. 90 Degrees multiplied by 4 gives us 360 Degrees. That is a Cycle isn't it?

The Basic Premise

Take the ephemeres (lunar dates). Look at each date listed in the market of your choice, and you will notice pivots occur on or around that day. The pivot day, for purposes of this article, is not the reversal day but the day just before it (also known as the set-up day), which signals the change about to come.

I have noticed that pivots generally occur within a tolerance range of -2, -1, 0, +1 or +2 trading days of the specific moon phase date, zero being the actual phase date. A hypothetical example of this would be if the next ephemeral date were August 9, 2006. The pivot day could be anywhere from the 7th to the 11th, the 9th being the zero day or actual lunar date.

A smaller percentage of the time, pivots occur within a tolerance of + or -3 trading days, so please keep this in mind. I have also noticed that a pivot day can occur on either side of a phase date in the same week. In other words, a pivot day can occur before and / or after a phase date in any given week, creating 2 pivot days in the same week.

Please take a look at the Daily Corn Chart for empirical evidence of this phenomena.