All articles tagged with #lunar phase
March 11 features the Moon at its last quarter, rising around 3 a.m. for U.S. observers, yielding dark, moonless evenings ideal for stargazing for the next week. The guide also flags an upcoming pre-dawn view of the Winter Milky Way on March 12 and notes that auroral activity may be more likely as nights stay dark into mid‑March.
Tonight features a first-quarter Moon that appears larger and brighter because it’s at perigee, climbing high in the southern sky after dark and casting long shadows along crater rims—making it an excellent night for moon-watching and general stargazing during late winter.
The half-lit moon will pass near the bright red star Antares in Scorpius on August 30-31, with the moon reaching its first quarter phase on August 31, offering a great opportunity for skywatchers to observe this celestial event and the moon's shifting position relative to Antares before the upcoming full moon and lunar eclipse in September.
The first full moon of 2024, known as the wolf moon, will brighten the skies on Thursday night, marking the start of the longest moon phase of the year. Sky watchers can expect to see Jupiter and Saturn in the sky as well. The wolf moon is named for the idea that wolves howl more in winter, and it will be followed by a total solar eclipse on April 8.
The "Beaver Moon," November's full moon, illuminated the night sky with its colorful display. While the moon always appears 50% lit by the sun, we can only see one face due to its tidal lock with Earth. Despite this, the moon wobbles throughout its orbit, revealing 59% of its surface. A full moon night is not ideal for stargazing as its brightness makes it difficult to see stars, galaxies, and nebulae, although planets remain unaffected. The next full moon will be the "Cold Moon" on December 26, 2023.
The Hunter's Moon, the October 2023 full moon, is set to appear on October 28. Named for its historical significance, this full moon was traditionally used by hunters to track game as they prepared for winter. The moon phases for October 2023 are: Last Quarter on Oct. 6, New Moon on Oct. 14, First Quarter on Oct. 22, and Full Moon on Oct. 28. There will not be a full moon on Halloween, but the moon will be approximately 90% illuminated. The next full moons after October are on Nov. 27 and Dec. 26.