Every month, the Moon seen from Earth, experiences a waxing and waning in its illumination that gives it different aspects. In a game of light and shadow, the earth’s natural satellite goes through different interesting stages that we know as phases of the Moon or lunar phases. And although it may seem complicated, in reality you only have to understand the dynamics of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon, to understand why the Moon looks different every day. Once the movement and interaction of these three celestial bodies is clear to us, then it remains for us to know how many and what are the phases of the Moon.
Lori Menna
a heavenly dance
The lunar cycle is derived from several factors, but the most relevant fact to understand its phases is that the Moon does not have its own light. Is reflects the light that reaches it from the Sun and with the celestial dance between the Earth and the Moon, the rays do not always reach it in the same way. It must be remembered that the Moon moves around our planet, therefore, there will be times when the light will give it completely when it is placed just behind the Earth and we will observe its illuminated face, what we know as the Full Moon.
But on the contrary, when the Moon stands between the Sun and the Earth, from our perspective we cannot observe the illuminated face of the natural satellite, we will only see a Moon full of shadows. A phase that we know as the New Moon, where the Moon is fully appreciated in the penumbras. However, these two are not the only lunar phases, in any month of the year from Earth eight lunar phases can be observed, which are mainly defined by two aspects. The first is how illuminated the lunar disk appears to be from the terrestrial perspective and the second is whether it is waning or growing. The lunar calendar is derived from these two aspects.
Moon phases
New Moon
Also known as a new moon, it occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. In this game of light and shadow, the illuminated side of the Moon could be seen from the Sun, but not from Earth. From our perspective, the half of the Moon facing us does not reflect sunlight. Therefore, we observe a moon completely in the penumbras.
Crescent moon
The first reflections of the Sun’s rays on the Moon begin to be seen, two days after the new moon. It has a C shape although it is observed from different sides depending on the hemisphere. The strip of light is seen growing from the left side in the southern hemisphere, while in the northern hemisphere it grows from the right.
first quarter
The crescent moon, unlike the crescent Moon, is characterized by illumination beyond only a C-shaped strip. In this phase, the Moon is half illuminated, the light already covers 50% of the face of the moon. natural satellite. Like the crescent Moon, the northern hemisphere will see the illumination from the right side, while in the southern hemisphere the left side will be illuminated.
crescent gibbous moon
The illumination continues to advance and prepares for the full Moon, however the illumination still does not reach 100%. The Sun’s rays cover 96% of the lunar disk, so we will now see a Moon with a small incomplete portion. And as in the previous phases, the illuminated side depends on the hemisphere in which it is located.
full moon
Also called the full moon, it occurs when the Sun, Earth, Moon alignment has arrived. From our perspective, one of the lunar faces is completely illuminated and we see it shine at night in its maximum splendor.
waning gibbous moon
The waning of the illumination achieved at the full Moon begins and the shadows advance again. The satellite begins to lose brightness on one of its sides depending on which hemisphere it is observed from. In the northern hemisphere the darkness advances from the right and to the left, otherwise in the southern hemisphere.
last quarter
Darkness and light reach a balance, the Moon is half illuminated and has shadows on the other percentage of its face. Our satellite is preparing for the last phases before starting its cycle again.
waning moon
The darkness continues to advance until it almost permeates the entire solar disk, but it is still possible to observe the last rays of the sun shining on a small portion. The Moon is now ready to begin its everlasting dance of light and shadow again.
POT