The Moon | Astronomy.com https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon/ Astronomy news, photos, observing events, and space missions. Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:38:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://www.astronomy.com/uploads/2024/10/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpg The Moon | Astronomy.com https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon/ 32 32 2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases https://www.astronomy.com/observing/full-moon-calendar-dates-times-types/ Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:38:58 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=131492// The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

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]]> The Moon passes Mars: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon-passes-mars-this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:53:02 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=156212// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the nearly full Moon as it passes Mars on the evening of December 17. Both objects closely follow the Sun’s apparent path through the stars, called the ecliptic. This time, however, they’ll be quite close, only about 1 degree apart. That distance is twice the diameterContinue reading "The Moon passes Mars: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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]]> The Moon passes Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon-passes-saturn-this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:52:50 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155685// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the Moon passing by Saturn on the evening of December 7. Both objects at the time will be in the constellation Aquarius the Water-bearer. The Moon will be 43 percent illuminated, or nearly at its First Quarter phase. The Ringed Planet will lie 4 degrees toContinue reading "The Moon passes Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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]]> How long would it take for an observer using binoculars to notice the Moon’s terminator moving? https://www.astronomy.com/observing/how-long-would-it-take-for-an-observer-using-binoculars-to-notice-the-moons-terminator-moving/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=154312// With the Moon’s terminator moving almost 10 mph (16 km/h) across its equator, how long would it take for an observer using binoculars to notice a change in lunar features? Gary GarcharSan Jose, California The lunar terminator, the sunset/sunrise line that sweeps across the Moon’s surface as the Moon orbits Earth, travels at a rateContinue reading "How long would it take for an observer using binoculars to notice the Moon’s terminator moving?"

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]]> The Moon meets Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon-meets-saturn-this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher-3/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 23:12:49 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=154544// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the Moon as it closely passes the Ringed Planet on the evening of November 10. Our natural satellite will be just past its First Quarter phase, while Saturn will glow nicely at magnitude 0.8. If you have a telescope and point it at Saturn, you’ll seeContinue reading "The Moon meets Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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]]> The Moon meets Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon-meets-saturn-this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher-2/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:44:48 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=153754// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe a close meeting of the Moon and the ringed planet, Saturn. This celestial meet-up will take place on the evening of Oct. 14. You won’t need binoculars or a telescope to view it, although binoculars may give a more pleasing view. Head out an hour afterContinue reading "The Moon meets Saturn: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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]]> The Moon meets Antares: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon-meets-antares/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 18:18:49 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=153534// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe a close meeting of the Moon and the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion, Antares. This celestial meet-up will take place on the evening of October 7. You won’t need binoculars or a telescope to view it, although binoculars may give a more pleasingContinue reading "The Moon meets Antares: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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]]> Get set for an eclipse on Easter Island https://www.astronomy.com/observing/get-set-for-an-eclipse-on-easter-island/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:00:53 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=153009// You may not know it, but we’re on the cusp of another solar eclipse. Next Wednesday, October 2, an annular eclipse will take place.  Of course, 71 percent of our planet’s surface consists of oceans, and this eclipse will be one that barely touches land. It will be visible entirely from the Pacific Ocean withContinue reading "Get set for an eclipse on Easter Island"

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]]> Watch the Moon cover the Pleiades Sunday morning https://www.astronomy.com/observing/watch-the-moon-cover-the-pleiades-sunday-morning/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=152494// Because the Moon is closer to Earth than the planets and stars, it sometimes passes in front of, or occults, more distant objects from our point of view. The early morning of September 22 brings one such event: Around 5 A.M. EDT (2 A.M. PDT), you’ll find a nearly Last Quarter Moon nestled next toContinue reading "Watch the Moon cover the Pleiades Sunday morning"

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]]> How to watch a partial lunar eclipse during Tuesday’s Super Moon https://www.astronomy.com/observing/how-to-watch-a-partial-lunar-eclipse-during-tuesdays-super-moon/ Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:51:01 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=152377// This week, we’re focused on the Moon as Tuesday brings us three amazing events.  The September Full Moon occurs Tuesday evening, bringing us the year’s Harvest Moon and the second of four stunning Super Moons of 2024.  At the same time, visible across much of the world (including the entire contiguous U.S.), the Full MoonContinue reading "How to watch a partial lunar eclipse during Tuesday’s Super Moon"

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