Monday, June 13, 2022

Science Fun: A Cool Full Moon Calendar & Calculator

 


Check out this tutorial courtesy of JPL to learn how to make a handy wheel style moon phases calendar (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/make-a-moon-phases-calendar-and-calculator/).  You can use your calendar to accurately predict when and where the moon will be visible for the rest of the year.

As you have no doubt observed the moon goes through phases across the course of a month.  The various phases in order are

1. New moon

2. Waxing crescent

3. First quarter

4. Waxing gibbous

5. Full moon

6. Waning gibbous

7. Third quarter

8. Waning crescent

Each phase rises over the eastern horizon and sets over the western horizon at different times of day and night. Depending on the phase and moonrise or moonset time, the Moon may not be visible at its rising or setting time, but its visibility, or lack of visibility, follows a predictable and observable pattern.