THE LUNAR CYCLE AND ITS PHASES
What is the Lunar Cycle:
The assigned definition of the lunar cycle assigned by this class is the cycle of phases the Moon goes through while making one revolution around the Moon.
For more about revolution please refer to Rotation and Revolution.
Each phase happens for around two to four days.
Each revolution takies about 27 days.
What are the Phases:
In order to better understand the lunar cycle in a whole, it would be helpful to know what each individual phases of the Moon are.
- New Moon
- Waxing Crescent
- First Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous
- Full Moon
- Waning Gibbous
- Third Quarter
- Waning Crescent
NEW MOON:
The New Moon is when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth causing a shadow to cast on the side of the Moon that is facing the Earth. The New Moon causes the first spring tide.
WAXING CRESCENT:
The Waxing Crescent is the next phase of the lunar cycle. This is when the Moon revolves around the Earth just enough to allow the Sun's light to reflect on to the Moon in a crescent shape on the right side of the Moon.
FIRST QUARTER:
During the First Quarter Moon, one fourth of the Moon is filled. The light would refract on the right side of the Moon as the First Quarter causes the neap tide, (more on that here). Although the Moon appears half filled from the Earth, it is actually only one fourth full from a full visual.
WAXING GIBBOUS:
The very next phase is the Waxing Gibbous. The Moon revolves around the Earth enough to create a football shape on the right side that takes up about three fourths of the side of the Moon that we can see from the Earth.
FULL MOON:
At the halfway point of the lunar cycle is the Full Moon. The Full Moon is when the half of the Moon that is visible to humans on Earth is completely illuminated. The Full Moon is also the second phase of the Moon that causes the spring tide.
WANING GIBBOUS:
The Waning Gibbous is the next phase after the Full Moon. This phase is the first phase that has light that's becoming smaller. Like the Waxing Gibbbous the light forms a football shape. Unlike the Waxing Gibbous the light is on the left.
THIRD QUARTER:
Next is the Third Quarter also known as the Last Quarter Moon. The Third Quarter Moon is when the half of the Moon that we can see appears to be half filled on the left side. Since it is a half of a half it is a fourth, giving the quarter part of the Moon. It is also the final or Third Quarter of the Moon. The Third Quarter of the Moon also helps cause the Neap Tide.
WANING CRESCENT:
Last before the cycle repeats itself is the Waning Crescent. The Waning Crescent is exactly like the Waxing Crescent except the light appears on the left of the Moon.