Event Date: June 25th
Time: 8:30 PM
Brief
As we view the Moon nearing first quarter this evening, with the Sun setting at almost its latest of the year, our satellite is seen several degrees further south. At 2º south of the celestial equator and the Sun at 23º north, it means that the Moon's time above the horizon is only for another three hours, 42 minutes elapsed from the time above. By comparison, when we looked at the same phase of Moon in late January and February (40%), it was setting closer to 5 hours after the Sun. It was at that time north of the Sun by several degrees, closer to where the Sun is now. During the summer and fall seasons, the Moon and planets seen just east of the Sun and setting after it, will be seen south as the ecliptic indicates in the image. Notice the smaller angle that it forms with the horizon, while the Moon's orbit also has it almost midway between the nodes (not shown). We know this from seeing the trough-like appearance of the orbit.
Time: 8:30 PM
Brief
As we view the Moon nearing first quarter this evening, with the Sun setting at almost its latest of the year, our satellite is seen several degrees further south. At 2º south of the celestial equator and the Sun at 23º north, it means that the Moon's time above the horizon is only for another three hours, 42 minutes elapsed from the time above. By comparison, when we looked at the same phase of Moon in late January and February (40%), it was setting closer to 5 hours after the Sun. It was at that time north of the Sun by several degrees, closer to where the Sun is now. During the summer and fall seasons, the Moon and planets seen just east of the Sun and setting after it, will be seen south as the ecliptic indicates in the image. Notice the smaller angle that it forms with the horizon, while the Moon's orbit also has it almost midway between the nodes (not shown). We know this from seeing the trough-like appearance of the orbit.
 |
| click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp. |
Detailed
As the Moon reaches first quarter and continues to wax, it will start to come back to the next node and go north of the ecliptic shortly before becoming full. By then, as mentioned a few days ago, it will be much further south on the celestial dome, where the Sun is in the late fall and early winter.
The cycle of the Moon in the sky may seem confusing, yet the easiest way to remember where to find it, is being aware of its elongation from the Sun and recalling what season we are in: during summer, the Sun is at or near its furthest north, near its furthest south during winter, and about midway at the time of the equinoxes. With that in mind, can you always remember where the Moon is for each phase?
No comments:
Post a Comment