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Last quarter moon after rising, lighted portion facing straight downward.

Last quarter moon is July 12

Posted by in Moon Phases | 4 days ago

The moon reaches its last quarter phase on July 12, 2020, at 23:29 UTC, and swings farthest from Earth for any quarter moon in 2020.

July full moon comes on Sunday, July 5

Posted by in Moon Phases | 1 week ago

July’s full moon is at 04:44 UTC on July 5, but it will look full before and after that date. What makes the moon look full?
Very thin crescent against lavender sky.

Will you see the young moon on June 21?

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Moon Phases | 3 weeks ago

It’s rare to catch a moon within 24 hours of new. This month’s new moon comes on June 21 at 06:41 UTC. At sunset on June 21, some in the Americas or on Pacific islands might catch an exceedingly fragile young moon – fresh from an eclipse – low in the west after sunset.
Bright waxing gibbous moon among treetops, with 2 birds flying by.

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Posted by in Moon Phases | 2 months ago

A waxing gibbous moon appears more than half lighted, but less than full. It rises before sundown and sets somewhere between midnight and dawn.

What is a waning crescent moon?

Posted by in Moon Phases | 1 year ago

A waning crescent moon is up in the east before sunrise. It’s waning toward new moon, when the moon will be between the Earth and sun.

Do we all see the same moon phase?

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Moon Phases | 1 year ago

One Earth. One sky. One moon phase (more or less) from all of Earth. So why (and how) does the moon look different from different parts of Earth?

Top 4 keys to understanding moon phases

Posted by in Moon Phases | 1 year ago

The most important key is to think of the moon as a world in space, with a day and night side.

What is a waning gibbous moon?

Posted by in Moon Phases | 1 year ago

A waning gibbous moon is a moon between full and last quarter. Watch for this moon phase from late night through early morning.

Crescent moon shot with a blue filter, so that the darkened portion of the moon looks blue.

What is a waxing crescent moon?

Posted by in Moon Phases | 2 years ago

Many people report seeing earthshine on a waxing crescent moon. That’s when the darkened portion of the crescent glows dimly with light reflected from Earth.

Quarter moon or a half moon?

Posted by in Moon Phases | 4 years ago

Half the moon always faces us. And half the moon is always lit by the sun. But, in the language of astronomers, there are no ‘half moons.’