Lunar PhasesLunar PhasesAnd Moon LoreAnd Moon Lore

Some Moon Lore

• New Moon

• Waxing Crescent Moon: Middle English cressaunt; Old French croissant; Latin crescens from crescere, to grow, increase

• First Quarter Moon

• Waxing Gibbous Moon: ME waxen; OE weaxen, growing

• Full Moon

Some Moon Lore

• Waning Gibbous Moon: bulging, protuberant, hump-backed; via ME from Latin gibbus, hump

• Last Quarter Moon Also called “third quarter”. Last quarter is preferred.

• Waning Crescent Moon: ME wanen; OE wanian, growing smaller, decreasing

• New Moon

Traditional Names of Full Moons

• January Old Moon, Moon After Yule• February Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon,• March Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Lenten Moon• April Grass Moon, Egg Moon• May Planting Moon, Milk Moon• June Rose Moon, Strawberry Moon, Flower Moon• July Thunder Moon, Hay Moon• August Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon• September Fruit Moon, Harvest Moon• October Hunter’s Moon, Harvest Moon• November Frosty Moon, Beaver Moon• December Moon Before Yule, Long Night Moon

Surface FeaturesSurface Features

• Craters are circular pits caused by impacts

• Highlands are bright areas on the moon due to different rock types (silicates)

• Maria are large, smooth, dark areas (basalt) caused by lava flows– Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility)

• Rays radiate outward from large craters

Far Side of the MoonFar Side of the Moon

Orbit and MotionsOrbit and Motions

• Synchronous rotation as it orbits earth, same side faces us

• Libration wobbling effect created by tidal forces

• Orbital inclination is about 5° with respect to earth’s orbit around sun

Synchronous RotationSynchronous Rotation

TidesTides

Orbit and MotionsOrbit and Motions

• Eclipses are rare – not monthly; due to inclination of the moon’s orbit

• Solar versus lunar eclipse

Apollo 11Apollo 11