What Is a Supermoon?
A Supermoon looks bigger than an average Full Moon, and happens when a Full or New Moon is near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, its perigee. more
Articles About Moon (58)
What Causes Tides?
The combined gravitational force of the Moon and the Sun causes the tides in Earth's oceans. There are 2 high tides and 2 low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes (lunar day). more
Annular Solar Eclipse
An annular solar eclipse is when the Moon moves in front of the Sun but leaves the outer edge of the Sun visible as a ring of fire. more
What Is the Antumbra?
The antumbra is the lighter part of a shadow that forms at a certain distance from the object casting the shadow. It is involved in annular solar eclipses and planet transits. more
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Solar and lunar eclipses, why they occur, when the next eclipse is, and from where you can see them. more
How Often Do Solar Eclipses Happen?
There are between 2 and 5 solar eclipses every year, each one visible only in a limited area. more
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
A hybrid eclipse or annular/total eclipse starts as a total solar eclipse but changes into an annular solar eclipse. Why is that so? When is the next hybrid solar eclipse? more
Eclipse Magnitude
Eclipse magnitude is a number that astronomers associate with solar or lunar eclipses. What does it mean? more
What Is a Partial Lunar Eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, but they are not precisely aligned. more
Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon only partially covers the Sun. more
What Is the Penumbra?
The penumbra is the lighter outer part of a shadow. The Moon's penumbra causes partial solar eclipses, and the Earth's penumbra is involved in penumbral lunar eclipses. more
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the outer shadow of Earth falls on the Moon's face. It is easy to miss this type of lunar eclipse. more
Why 3 Shadows?
The Earth and the Moon cast 3 different shadows: umbra, penumbra, and antumbra. Why are there 3 types of shadows and how are they defined? more
What Is a Solar Eclipse?
Solar eclipses happen when the Moon moves between Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's rays and casting a shadow on Earth. more
Solar Eclipses in History
Solar eclipses were historically seen as omens that bring about death and destruction. People in many ancient civilizations tried their best to understand them. more
Solar Eclipse Myths
The solar eclipse has inspired many mythical stories and influenced human behavior. Even today, eclipses of the Sun are considered bad omens in many cultures. more
Total Lunar Eclipses
A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth's shadow blocks the direct light from the Sun reaching the Full Moon. more
Total Solar Eclipse
Total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth. more
What Is the Umbra?
The umbra is the dark center portion of a shadow. The Moon's umbra causes total solar eclipses, and the Earth's umbra is involved in total and partial lunar eclipses. more
Watching Lunar Eclipses
A lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, which have special safety requirements. more
Lunar Eclipse: Red Moon
Find out why a totally eclipsed Moon turns a shade of red. more
The Moon Phases
There are 4 primary Moon phases and 4 intermediate phases. New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Third or Last Quarter Waxing and Waning Crescent Moon. more
Magnetic Declination
A compass needle doesn't point to the geographical North Pole but to magnetic north. Did you know that it usually doesn't point to the magnetic North Pole either? more
What Is Earthshine?
Earthshine is a dull glow that occurs when the Sun’s light reflects off the Earth's surface and illuminates the unlit portion of the Moon. more
Astronomical Glossary - Terms & Definitions
What do astronomers really mean when they use those technical terms? more
The Horizontal Coordinate System
Learn how to use altitude (elevation) and azimuth angles to locate any object in the sky, such as stars, planets, satellites, the Sun, or the Moon. more
What Are Moonbows?
Moonbows occur when the Moon’s light is reflected and refracted off water droplets in the air. more
2018 Cosmic Calendar
List of cosmic events in 2018 including supermoons, solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, solstices, and equinoxes. more
How to Take Pictures of the Moon
With the right equipment, a little time and planning, you can take great pictures of the Moon. more
November: Beaver Moon
The Full Moon in November is named after beavers. It is also called Frost Moon and Mourning Moon, depending on the winter solstice. more
What Is a Black Moon?
A Black Moon can be the third New Moon in a season with four New Moons or the second New Moon in the same calendar month—or even no New Moon at all. more
What Is a Blue Moon?
'Once in a blue moon', suggests something is very rare. But just how rare is a Blue Moon? more
Is a Blue Moon Blue?
A Blue Moon is a type of a Full Moon. It can also be a rare Moon that looks blue due to atmospheric dust particles. more
July: Buck Moon
The Full Moon in July is the Buck Moon. Is is also called Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and Wort Moon. more
December: Cold Moon
The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, the Moon before Yule, Oak Moon, and Wolf Moon. more
The Moon's Far Side
The notion that there is a permanently dark side of the Moon is wrong. What is true, is that there is a far side of the Moon, a side we never see from Earth more
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter Moon is a primary Moon phase when we can see exactly half of the Moon's surface illuminated. If it is the left or right half, depends on where you are on Earth. more
May: Flower Moon
The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. Other names include the Corn Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon, while some named it the Hare moon. more
September: Harvest or Corn Moon
The September Full Moon is usually the Harvest Moon, but this depends on the equinox. It is also called Full Corn Moon or Barley Moon. more
The Full Moon
The Full Moon is the moment the entire face of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun's rays. It is the 3rd primary phase. Each Full Moon has a name, except the Blue Moon. more
Full Moon Names
Full Moons had given names in many ancient cultures. The Full Moon names we use today often reflect nature like Harvest Moon. more
Harvest Moon in September or October?
The Harvest Moon varies between September or October in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the Full Moon nearest the autumnal (fall) equinox. more
October: Hunter's or Harvest Moon
Every third year, October’s Full Moon, the Hunter’s Moon is also the Harvest Moon. It's also called Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon. more
The Lunar Month
A lunar month is the time it takes the Moon to pass through all of the Moon phases, usually measured from a New Moon the next New Moon. more
What Is Lunar Perigee and Apogee?
The Moon's orbit around Earth is elliptical. The point of the orbit closest to Earth is called perigee, while the point farthest from Earth is known as apogee. more
What Is a Micromoon?
A Micromoon is the name given to a Full or New Moon when the Moon is farthest from Earth. more
The New Moon
In modern astronomy, the New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon. The New Moon also has important cultural and religious significance worldwide. more
April: Pink Moon
Pink Moon comes from Pink Wild Ground Phlox which bloom in spring. Other names for this Full Moon are Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Hare Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon. more
February: Snow Moon
The February Full Moon is named after the snow on the ground. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon, others called it the Storm Moon. more
June: Strawberry Moon
The wild strawberries that start to ripen gave name to the Full Moon in June. Other names are Rose Moon, Hot Moon, and Mead Moon. more
August: Sturgeon Moon
The Full Moon in August is named after the lake sturgeon. Other names for this Full Moon include Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon, Fruit Moon, and Barley Moon. more
Third Quarter Moon
The Third or Last Quarter Moon is when the opposite half of the Moon is illuminated compared to the First Quarter. more
Waning Crescent Moon
During the Waning Crescent Moon phase, the illuminated part of the Moon decreases from a semicircle at Third Quarter until it disappears from view entirely at New Moon. more
Waning Gibbous Moon
The Waning Gibbous Moon is an intermediate Moon phase which starts after Full Moon and lasts until half of the Moon's surface is illuminated at Third Quarter Moon. more
Waxing Crescent Moon
Waxing Crescent Moon is an intermediate Moon phase which starts after New Moon and lasts until half of the Moon's surface is illuminated at First Quarter Moon. more
Waxing Gibbous Moon
The Waxing Gibbous Moon is an intermediate Moon phase which starts after the First Quarter Moon and lasts until the Full Moon. more
January: Wolf Moon
The January Full Moon is named after howling wolves. In some cultures, it was known as Old Moon, Ice Moon, Snow Moon, and the Moon after Yule. more
March: Worm Moon
The Full Moon in March is the Worm Moon. It is also called Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Chaste Moon, Sugar Moon, and Sap Moon. more
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