Articles About Moon (67)
The Moon Phases
The Moon has four primary phases and four intermediate phases during a lunar month. Here's all you need to know about each phase.
What Is a Supermoon?
When the Full Moon or occurs near the Moon's closest approach to Earth, its perigee, it is often called a supermoon.
What Causes Tides?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun makes the water in the oceans bulge, causing a continuous change between high and low tide.
The Moon: Our Satellite
Our Moon is the 5th-largest of the more than 200 moons in the solar system.
Full Moon Names
Ancient cultures gave names to the Full Moon. These names are still in use today.
The Full Moon
The third primary phase of the Moon is the Full Moon.
What's a Blood Moon?
A total lunar eclipse is often called a Blood Moon because of the red glow the eclipsed Moon gets. The term is also used for four total lunar eclipses that occur in a row.
Astronomical Events 2024
When, where, and how to see things happening in the sky and space.
The New Moon
When is the next New Moon? New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon.
What Is a Blue Moon?
“Once in a blue moon” suggests something is very rare. But just how rare is a Blue Moon?
Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Solar and lunar eclipses, why they occur, when the next eclipse is, and from where you can see them.
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?
First Quarter Moon
The 1st Quarter Moon is a primary Moon phase when we can see exactly half of the Moon’s surface lit up. Which half appears lit up depends on where you are on Earth.
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.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
The Waxing Gibbous Moon is an intermediate Moon phase that starts after the First Quarter Moon and lasts until the Full Moon.
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.
Third Quarter Moon
The Third or Last Quarter Moon is when the opposite half of the Moon is illuminated compared to the First Quarter.
Total Lunar Eclipse
What happens when the Earth’s dark, reddish shadow covers the Moon completely?
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.
Lunar Eclipse: Red Moon
Find out why a totally eclipsed Moon turns a shade of red.
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.
Astronomical Glossary - Terms & Definitions
What do astronomers really mean when they use those technical terms?
Waxing Crescent Moon
The Waxing Crescent Moon phase starts after New Moon and lasts until half of the Waxing Moon's surface is illuminated at First Quarter Moon.
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.
What Is a Micromoon?
A Micromoon is the name given to a Full or New Moon when the Moon is farthest from Earth.
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.
How Often Do Solar Eclipses Happen?
There are between 2 and 5 solar eclipses every year, each one visible only in a limited area.
Waning Crescent Moon
During the Waning Crescent Moon phase, the lit-up part of the Waning Moon shrinks from the Third Quarter Moon until it disappears from view at New Moon.
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.
What Are Moonbows?
Moonbows occur when the Moon’s light is reflected and refracted off water droplets in the air.
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.
Watching Lunar Eclipses
A lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, which have special safety requirements.
Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon only partially covers the Sun.
Altitude & Azimuth: 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.
January: Wolf Moon
January’s Full Moon is named after howling wolves. In some cultures, it's known as the Quiet Moon, Severe Moon, and the Moon after Yule.
Shadow Science
There are three kinds of shadows that produce eclipses.
The Moon Illusion
Some days, the Full Moon at the horizon looks larger than a normal Full Moon. Does the Moon really change size or is this an illusion?
What Is a 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.
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.
Partial Lunar Eclipse
What happens when the Earth’s dark shadow covers part of the Moon’s face?
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.
December: Cold Moon
The December Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, Long Nights Moon, the Moon before Yule, Oak Moon, and Wolf Moon.
August: Sturgeon Moon
The Full Moon in August is called the Sturgeon Moon, named after North America's largest fish. Find out why as well as other names for this Moon.
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.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
What happens when the Earth’s lighter, outer shadow covers the Moon?
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
A hybrid solar eclipse or annular/total eclipse changes from a total to an annular eclipse. Why is that so? When is the next hybrid eclipse?
Eclipse Magnitude
Learn more about the number that tells us how deep an eclipse will be.
March: Worm Moon
The Full Moon in March is the Worm Moon, but if it occurs on or after March 21 it is also the Paschal Moon. Discover other names for this Moon.
The Moon's Far Side
Contrary to popular belief, there is no "dark side of the Moon." When there is a New Moon from Earth's perspective, the far side of the Moon is lit up.
September: Harvest and Corn Moon
The September Full Moon can be both the Harvest Moon and the Corn Moon. However, around every three years, the Harvest Moon occurs in October.
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 call it the Storm Moon.
April: Pink Moon
The Pink Moon is the Full Moon in April. It is also called Breaking Ice Moon, Budding Moon, Awakening Moon, Egg Moon, and Paschal Moon. When is the Pink Moon?
June: Strawberry Moon
What is a Strawberry Moon, also called the Rose Moon? When is the Strawberry Full Moon in 2025, why does it happen in June, and how did it get its name?
May: Flower Moon
The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon or Full Flower Moon. Other names include Milk Moon and Hare Moon. What is the meaning behind these names?
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.
July: Buck Moon
The Full Moon in July is the Buck Moon. It is also called Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, and Wyrt Moon.
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.
Sunlight through valleys
Read more about Baily’s beads.
A jewel in the sky
Read more about the diamond ring.
Eclipse Seasons
Roughly speaking, there are two eclipse seasons per year. Each season contains different kinds of eclipses to the last one.
Why Does a Lunar Eclipse Have Two Dates?
The date of a lunar eclipse depends on where you are in the world. At timeanddate, we normally use two numbers to give the date of a lunar eclipse.
A Once-In-A-Thousand-Years Eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse on November 19, 2021, was the longest since the 15th century, around the time Machu Picchu was being built.
Holidays Connected to Astronomic Events
People worldwide mark the movement of celestial bodies with a wide variety of celebrations and rituals. We list the most important astronomical holidays.
The Moon Effect
Does the Moon really affect our sleep, behavior, and personality?
Take a Good Picture of the Moon
You can take great pictures of the Moon with a bit of planning.
Seven Ways We Simplified Our Moon Phases Video
Seven of the biggest simplifications we made in our video about Moon phases.
The Super Harvest Moon Eclipse 2024
Five reasons why the Full Moon on the night of September 17–18, 2024, will be extra special.