First Quater Moon

Tonight marks the First Quarter of the Moon's phase in our night sky.

I've been admiring the lovely waxing crescent nights these days waiting for this First Quarter phase and find it fitting to be on the very night of the New Year 2012.

Facts about the First Quarter Moon:

*Some might call it a "half moon" but in reality the lighted side of the moon is one quarter, that is visible to us Earth dwellers....

 

 *"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! A first quarter moon rises at noon and is high overhead at sunset. It sets around midnight."

http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/first-quarter

I'll leave you with a quick moon myth about Bad Luck:

 
"- It was thought that to sleep in direct moonlight caused madness or blindness.
- In time, the word, Lunatic, from "luna", meaning moon, and "tic", meaning struck, evolved from this belief."http://www.squidoo.com/moon-magic


PPS. Check out this moon phase Oreo !

HAPPY 2012 EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

Those are the Phases

I am fascinated by the moon, the stars, the solar system. But recently I realize my knowledge is general and I hope to expand it by creating this blog. If you feel so inclined, follow me while I share my findings and post photos. These are the jems of the sky, shinning above our heads, reminding us of the giant wonderful world we are a part of...

 ~Janet~

LUNAR PHASES

There are 8 phases of the moon's cycles; New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter and Waning Crescent.

I gotta say, this song is super catchy :D 

 

 

  Today is the beginning of the Moon Cycle - NEW MOON

When the Sun and Moon are aligned on the same side of the Earth the Moon is "new." 

The side of the Moon visible from Earth is not illuminated by the Sun.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Phases

According to Moon folklore, "If a new moon falls on a Saturday, it is said there would be 20 days of wind and rain."   http://www.janih.com/lady/moons/moon6.html

I guess this could translate into snowfall for us in the North :)

 

Until next time,



Happy NEW MOON!

Picture I took of the Waxing Gibbous moon, Sept 2011.