Where’s the moon? First quarter

A nearly first quarter as seen in Meaux, France by Patrick Casaert of La Lune The Moon.

A first quarter moon shows half of its lighted hemisphere – half of its day side – to Earth.

The moon reaches first quarter on October 9, 2016 at 0433 UTC; translate to your timezone. The full moon will come on the nights of October 15-16. It will be the Hunter’s Moon and also a supermoon.

We call this moon a quarter and not a half because it is one quarter of the way around in its orbit of Earth, as measured from one new moon to the next.

Also, although the moon appears half-lit to us, it’s good to recall that the illuminated portion of a first quarter moon truly is just a quarter. On the night of first quarter moon, we see half the moon’s day side, or a true quarter of the moon. Another lighted quarter of the moon shines just as brightly in the direction opposite Earth!

And what about the term half moon? That’s a beloved term, but not an official one.

A first quarter moon rises at noon and is highest in the sky at sunset. It sets around midnight. First quarter moon comes a week after new moon. Now, as seen from above, the moon in its orbit around Earth is at right angles to a line between the Earth and sun.

When the first quarter moon sets around midnight, the sun is always below your feet. Good time to experience the moon and Earth as worlds in space, always half-illuminated by the sun. Setting first quarter moon by Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe.

As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.

Four keys to understanding moon phases

Where’s the moon? Waxing crescent
Where’s the moon? First quarter
Where’s the moon? Waxing gibbous
What’s special about a full moon?
Where’s the moon? Waning gibbous
Where’s the moon? Last quarter
Where’s the moon? Waning crescent
Where’s the moon? New phase

Moon in 2016: Phases, cycles, eclipses, supermoons and more

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1GsHF3c

A nearly first quarter as seen in Meaux, France by Patrick Casaert of La Lune The Moon.

A first quarter moon shows half of its lighted hemisphere – half of its day side – to Earth.

The moon reaches first quarter on October 9, 2016 at 0433 UTC; translate to your timezone. The full moon will come on the nights of October 15-16. It will be the Hunter’s Moon and also a supermoon.

We call this moon a quarter and not a half because it is one quarter of the way around in its orbit of Earth, as measured from one new moon to the next.

Also, although the moon appears half-lit to us, it’s good to recall that the illuminated portion of a first quarter moon truly is just a quarter. On the night of first quarter moon, we see half the moon’s day side, or a true quarter of the moon. Another lighted quarter of the moon shines just as brightly in the direction opposite Earth!

And what about the term half moon? That’s a beloved term, but not an official one.

A first quarter moon rises at noon and is highest in the sky at sunset. It sets around midnight. First quarter moon comes a week after new moon. Now, as seen from above, the moon in its orbit around Earth is at right angles to a line between the Earth and sun.

When the first quarter moon sets around midnight, the sun is always below your feet. Good time to experience the moon and Earth as worlds in space, always half-illuminated by the sun. Setting first quarter moon by Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe.

As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.

Four keys to understanding moon phases

Where’s the moon? Waxing crescent
Where’s the moon? First quarter
Where’s the moon? Waxing gibbous
What’s special about a full moon?
Where’s the moon? Waning gibbous
Where’s the moon? Last quarter
Where’s the moon? Waning crescent
Where’s the moon? New phase

Moon in 2016: Phases, cycles, eclipses, supermoons and more

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1GsHF3c