Earth has only one natural satellite, and that’s the Moon. The Moon is part of the Earth-Moon satellite system. It has a diameter equal to almost a quarter of Earth. Did you know that a lunar cycle has eight different types of moon?
We’re all familiar with the terms “Blue Moon,” “Full Moon,” and “Blood Moon,” but what do they signify, exactly? If you’re a night owl, you might have noticed that each night the Moon has a somewhat distinct appearance. This occurs because our Moon goes through numerous different phases and forms. Here are all the different types of Moon.
Types Of Moon
When we gaze upward at the Moon, we do not always view the same amount of the satellite’s surface that is illuminated. The term “phase” refers to the apparent transformation that takes place in the form of the Moon.
The phases of the Moon are caused by how the Moon, Sun, and Earth are lined up with each other. We can only see the parts of the Moon that are lit up by other things. This is because the Moon doesn’t give off any light that we can see. Only a small amount of light comes from faraway stars and light that bounces off the Earth. But the Sun is the main source of light for the Moon.
Within the Western world, the lunar cycle is divided into eight phases. This means that throughout one cycle, known as a Lunar Month, there are eight different moons.
The cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, thus it is not a full calendar month, but it was utilized to develop the calendar we use today. The cycle describes when the Moon goes from a New Moon to a Full Moon and then back to a New Moon in order for the cycle to repeat.
Here are the eight different phases of moon;
New Moon
The cycle begins with the New Moon, which is not visible to us. This is so that we can see the shadow thrown on the side of the Moon that is directly in line with Earth and the Sun at this point in the cycle. On this side, it cannot get direct sunlight, thus it doesn’t appear to be lit up to us.
Waxing Crescent
The following stage is known as the Waxing Crescent. Waxing indicates that it is expanding or growing. This phase occurs when the Moon begins to move into a position where the sun begins to illuminate a portion of the Moon’s surface, resulting in the formation of a tiny crescent. The moon maintains a Waxing Crescent until it reaches approximately 49% illumination.
First Quarter
After the Waxing Crescent comes the First Quarter, which is the third phase. About half of the Moon is lit up, making it look like a half-circle. This is also when the Moon is a quarter of the way around the Earth in its orbit.
Waxing Gibbous
After the First Quarter Moon, when the Moon is between 51% and 99% lit up, it is in the Waxing Gibbous Moon phase. During this Moon phase, the Moon goes from looking half-lit to almost fully lit.
Full Moon
The Full Moon occurs when the Moon has reached the opposite side of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. This implies that the surface of the Moon is in direct sunlight and can be fully illuminated. The Full Moon continues during the 14th and 15th days of the cycle before transitioning to the next phase.
Waning Gibbous
In essence, the Waxing Gibbous Moon is the opposite of the Waning Gibbous Moon. The Moon is visible as it transitions from Full Moon to a Quarter Moon. At this point, we observe a decline from 99% illumination to 51%.
Third Quarter
The Third Quarter Moon occurs when the Moon’s other half is lit until it reaches 50%. This is an indication that the moon cycle is drawing to an end and that there will be be a New Moon.
Waning Crescent
The Waning Crescent marks the conclusion of the lunar month’s last phase. Waning, which is defined as “becoming smaller,” is the process by which the Moon’s surface illumination decreases from 49% to 1%. The Moon will gradually become less bright as it descends, eventually becoming a little crescent. At some point, the cycle will come to an end, and you will see nothing.
What is Dark Moon?
Dark moon refers to the final visible crescent of a waning Moon. Depending on its ecliptic latitude, the period of a new moon ranges between 1.5 and 3.5 days.
Micro Moon And Super Moon
When the Moon is farthest from Earth, it is said to be a “micro moon.” As a result, although though the moon appears smaller when we look up in the sky, it is actually only farther away than usual. Typically, this happens while the moon is in its full or new moon phases. Due to the Moon’s elliptical orbit around the Earth, one side of the orbit is closer to the Earth than the other. The Micro Moon takes place when the Moon is 405,000 kilometers from the center of the Earth.
When the moon is in its Full or New Moon phase and is traveling along its orbit closest to Earth, this is known as a Super Moon. At this point in its trip, the Moon is 360,000 kilometers from Earth’s center and is in its closest position to the planet.
Blue Moon And Blood Moon
A blue moon is an extra full moon that happens during a season. It is the third of four full moons that happen during a season. Most of the time, a Blue Moon looks blue because dust makes the light look different. When we look up, we see a blue tint on the Moon.
The term “blood moon” refers to the total lunar eclipse because of its reddish hue. This occurs when sunlight’s red wavelengths pass through Earth’s atmosphere and land on the moon.
Conclusion
As a result of environmental factors and the Moon’s location in Earth’s orbit, many different varieties of the Moon are seen. It is really interesting to watch the different types of moon in the night sky.
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