How to tell if the moon is rising or waning: 9 steps

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How to tell if the moon is rising or waning: 9 steps
How to tell if the moon is rising or waning: 9 steps

Video: How to tell if the moon is rising or waning: 9 steps

Video: How to tell if the moon is rising or waning: 9 steps
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Knowing the difference between the crescent Moon and the waning Moon is a great help in figuring out where it is in relation to the Sun and Earth and in predicting the tides, but that's not all; it's also helpful to know the times she is born and sets at each stage to predict where she will be when you want to watch her. As the name says, "Winning Moon" is when, night after night, the lighted portion increases and "Winning Moon" is the reverse. The method described in this article has some variations by hemisphere, but the ground rules are the same everywhere.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Understanding the phases of the moon

Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 1
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 1

Step 1. Know the name of each phase

The Moon does not have its own light, what we see is the sun's brightness reflected on its surface. It rotates around the Earth, so at each phase we see a different angle illuminated by the Sun. The lunar cycle goes from New Moon to Full Moon and this transition is visible by the shapes that the moon's own shadow projects. Its phases are:

  • New Moon.
  • Crescent or concave moon.
  • First Quarter.
  • Convex or gibbous crescent.
  • Full moon.
  • Withering convex or humpback.
  • Withering room.
  • Moon waning or waning concave.
  • New Moon.
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 2
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 2

Step 2. Understand what each phase means

The Moon travels the same path around the Earth monthly, passing through each phase at certain times. As its position changes in relation to the Sun and Earth, we see its surface illuminated from different angles and so we create its phases. Half of the Moon is constantly lit, so what determines which phase it is in is our view of Earth.

  • The new Moon happens when it is between the Sun and the Earth, so its lit face is facing the Sun and from our perspective it has no light at all. At this stage, we see it from the side that is in the shadow.
  • In the crescent quarter, what you see is half the moon in light and half in shadow. During the waning quarter we also see it like this, but with the light hitting the opposite side.
  • When the Moon is full, we see the half that is fully lit and the half that is shadowed is facing space.
  • After the full Moon, the Moon continues its journey towards its initial position between the Earth and the Sun, that is, the next new Moon.
  • The Moon takes about 27 days to go around the Earth, but its cycle is only completed in approximately 29, 5 days, when it positions itself again between the Earth and the Sun.
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 3
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 3

Step 3. Find out why the moon fills and wanes

On the way between new moon and full moon, we see the lighted face increase in size, that's why its name is growing and as it makes its way back to the New Moon position, we see its lighted side shrink in size, so its name is waning.

Although the phases are very similar, it is possible to distinguish which is which according to its location and orientation in the sky

Part 2 of 3: Unraveling the Moon Phases in the Northern Hemisphere

Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 4
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 4

Step 1. The Moon waxes and wanes from right to left

During this journey, different parts of it are illuminated by the Sun. In the northern hemisphere, the bright portion grows from right to left, until reaching the full moon. Not surprisingly, it also fades from right to left.

  • The Sun reflects its light on the right side of the Moon during the rising phase, and on the left side during the waning phase.
  • Raise your open right hand with the palm facing the sky. The curvature between the big toe and the index finger is in the shape of an upside-down C; when the Moon fits this curvature, it means that it is crescent. Do the same with your left hand, and if the Moon fits the curvature, it's waning.
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 5
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 5

Step 2. Use the letters D, O and C

The Moon always stays in the same positions when it changes phases and the letters D, O, and C can help you figure out if it's growing or shrinking. During the fourth crescent phase, she looks like a D; when it's full, it looks like an O, and when it's waning, it looks like a C.

  • When the Moon looks like an upside-down C, it is in the concave crescent phase.
  • When it looks like a D, it is in the gibbous/convex crescent phase.
  • When it looks like an upside-down D, it is in the gibbous/convex waning phase.
  • When it looks like a normal C, it is in waning concave.
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 6
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 6

Step 3. Learn to differentiate the rising moon from the setting moon

The time the Moon rises and sets depends on the phase it is in, that is, it is possible to find out if it is growing or waning by the time it appears and disappears.

  • We cannot see the new moon because its illuminated side is completely facing the sun and also because the times when it rises and sets coincide with sunrise and sunset.
  • During the crescent phase, the moon rises in the morning, peaks in the late afternoon, and sets around midnight.
  • The full moon appears when the sun sets and disappears when it rises.
  • During the waning phase, it is born at midnight and sets in the morning.

Part 3 of 3: Unraveling the phases of the moon in the southern hemisphere

Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 7
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 7

Step 1. Find out which side of the Moon is lit by the Sun during the waxing and waning phase

Unlike the northern hemisphere, in the south it is lit from left to right, fills up and starts to fade from the left as well.

  • When sunlight reflects off your left side, it will be increasing; when the light is on your right side, it will be fading.
  • Raise your open right hand, palm facing the sky. The curvature between the big toe and the index finger forms an upside-down C. When the Moon fits this curve, it is waning (or waning); if you do the same with your left hand and the Moon snaps to C, it's crescent.
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 8
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 8

Step 2. Use the letters C, O and D

The Moon always stays in the same positions when it changes phases, but the shape of the letters is the opposite of what appears in the northern hemisphere.

  • When the Moon looks like a C, it's crescent.
  • When it looks like an upside-down D, it's in a gibbous/convex crescent.
  • When it looks like an O, it's full.
  • When it looks like a D, it's waning gibbous/convex.
  • When it looks like an upside-down C, it's waning concave
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 9
Tell Whether the Moon Is Waxing or Waning Step 9

Step 3. Learn to differentiate the rising and the setting moon

Even though in the southern hemisphere it has opposite shapes, the moon rises and sets at the same times and phases as in the northern hemisphere.

  • The crescent moon rises in the morning and sets at midnight.
  • The full moon rises when the sun sets and disappears when it rises.
  • The waning moon rises at midnight and sets in the morning.

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