Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Understanding the phases of the moon
• Part 2 of 3: Determining the Phases of the Moon in the Northern Hemisphere
• Part 3 of 3: Determining the Moon Phases in the Southern Hemisphere

Determining whether the moon is waxing or waning will help you find out its phase, how things are with the ebb and flow, and where the moon is now in relation to the Earth and the Sun. It is also helpful to know where the moon rises and sets in different phases, in case you want to see it on a specific night. There are several ways to determine if the moon is waxing or waning, and although there are some nuances in geographic location, the principle remains the same.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Understanding the phases of the moon

1. 1 Remember the names of the phases. The moon revolves around the earth, so we see its illuminated surface from different angles. The moon does not emit any radiation, but rather reflects sunlight. When the Moon changes from new to full and back to new, it goes through several phases, recognizable by its semicircle and crescent shape, formed by its own shadow. Moon phases:
   • new moon;
   • young moon;
   • first quarter;
   • waxing moon;
   • full moon;
   • waning moon;
   • last quarter;
   • old moon;
   • new moon.
2. 2 Know what the phases mean. The moon travels the same path around the earth every month, so the phases are repeated every month. Phases exist because from our perspective on Earth, we observe different degrees of illumination of the Moon as it rotates around us. Remember that half of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun: and it depends only on our changing point of view on Earth which phase we see.
   • On a new moon, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun and therefore, from our point of view, it is not illuminated at all. At this time, the illuminated side of the Moon is completely turned towards the Sun, and we see the side that is entirely in the shadow.
   • During the first quarter, we see half of the illuminated and half of the shaded side of the moon. The same applies to the last quarter, except that we now see them the other way around.
   • When the Moon is shown in full, we see its lighted side, while the darkened side is turned towards space.
   • After the full moon, the Moon continues its journey back to its original position between the Earth and the Sun, which corresponds to the phase of the new moon.
   • A complete revolution around the Earth takes a little more than 27 days for the Moon. However, a full lunar month (from new moon to new moon) is 29.5 days, which is how long it takes for the Moon to return to its position between the Sun and Earth.
3. 3 Find out why the moon is waxing and waning. From new moon to full moon, we see that the illuminated part of the moon is growing, and this is called the growing phase (growth is called growth or increase). Then, from full moon to new moon, we see a diminishing portion of the illuminated side of the month and this is called waning, which means a decrease in strength or intensity.
   • Moon phases always look the same, however the month itself can appear in different places and positions in the sky, but you can always tell the phase if you know what to look at.

Part 2 of 3: Determining the Phases of the Moon in the Northern Hemisphere

1. 1 Remember that the moon wanes and wanes from right to left. During the period of increasing and decreasing, different parts of the moon are illuminated. In the northern hemisphere, the illuminated portion of the moon will rise from right to left and then decrease from left to right.
   • During the arrival, the Moon is illuminated on the right, and during the decrease, on the left.
   • Extend your right hand and thumb with your palm toward the sky. Bend your thumb and forefinger slightly to create an inverted C. If the moon fits into this curve (i.e., C), it is a waxing moon (young). If you do the same with your left hand and the moon fits into "C," then it wanes (waning moon).
2. 2 Memorize D, O, C. Since the moon always follows the same lighting pattern, you can use the shape of the letters D, O, and C to define a waxing or waning moon. In the first quarter, the month resembles the letter D. When full, it is shaped like the letter O. The last quarter looks like the letter C.
   • Reverse C-shaped crescent - waxing moon.
   • The half or D-shaped moon is the waxing moon.
   • The half or protruding moon in the shape of an inverse D is a waning moon.
   • The C-shaped crescent is the waning moon.
3. 3 Find out when the month is rising and falling. The moon does not always rise and set at the same time, it changes depending on the lunar phase. This means that you can use the rising and setting times to determine if the moon is waxing or waning.
   • It is impossible to see the young moon, since it is not illuminated by the sun, and also because it rises and sets at the same time as the sun.
   • When the waxing moon moves into the first quarter, it rises in the morning, reaches its highest point at dusk, and sets around midnight.
   • The full moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise.
   • On the last quarter, the moon rises at midnight and sets in the morning.

Part 3 of 3: Determining the Moon Phases in the Southern Hemisphere

1. 1 Examine how much of the moon is illuminated during the waning and waning periods. Unlike the northern hemisphere, in the southern hemisphere, the moon is illuminated from left to right, the month becomes full, and then decreases from left to right.
   • The moon, illuminated from the left, is growing, and from the right, it is waning.
   • Extend your right hand and thumb with your palm toward the sky. Bend your thumb and forefinger slightly to create an inverted C. If the moon fits into this curve (i.e., C), it is a waning moon. If you do the same with your left hand and the moon fits into "C" then it is a waxing moon.
2. 2 Remember C, O, D. The moon goes through all the same phases in the southern hemisphere, but the shapes of the letters that represent the waxing and waning moon are located in a different direction.
   • The C-shaped crescent moon is the waxing moon.
   • The half or protruding moon in the shape of an inverse D is the waxing moon.
   • The moon in the shape of the letter O is a full moon.
   • The half or D-shaped crescent moon is the waning moon.
   • The inverse C-shaped crescent is the waning moon.
3. 3 Find out when the moon is rising and setting. Although in the southern hemisphere, unlike in the northern, the moon is illuminated in a different direction, it sets and rises at the same time.
   • In the first quarter, the moon rises in the morning and sets around midnight.
   • The full moon rises and sets as the sun sets and rises.
   • In the last quarter, the moon rises at midnight and sets in the morning.