How Many Moon Phases in a Year
Moon phases are a product of the Moon’s orbit around Earth, which allows different parts of the Moon to be illuminated by the Sun.
Four primary and four intermediate phases form a lunar cycle that lasts about 29.5 days. The Gregorian calendar divides years into months, based on the number of moon phases.
New Moon
The new moon is a very special moment – when the sun and moon are directly aligned in the sky, setting off a new cycle of light. It’s so exciting for sky watchers that many cultures revolve around ceremonies based on this phase.
In astrology, we use the phases of the moon to determine many holidays, like Easter and the Lunar New Year. But the moon doesn’t just have a direct correlation to your astrological sign, it also affects your mood and energy levels.
The Moon’s right side grows with light from a crescent to a semicircle to a gibbous (more than a semicircle but less than a full circle) shape until it becomes a full moon. But its left side shrinks and gets darker. This process is called waning, and it takes about a fortnight.
First Quarter
The first quarter is the third major phase of the lunar cycle. It follows the waxing crescent and waxing gibbous phases and is the stage when half of the Moon’s disk is illuminated.
When it first appears, it will be about a week away from the Full Moon phase. This means that it will have a few days of light left, but only about half the disk will be visible.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this phase is called the “light half.” The right side of the Moon will be bright. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will be the “night half.”
This phase is also referred to as the “third quarter,” because it marks the end of one orbit. At this point the Moon has traveled three-quarters of its orbit and is 90 degrees west of the Sun when viewed from Earth.
Full Moon
The full moon is the most striking of the eight lunar phases, as it fully illuminates the Moon’s face from Earth. It is often referred to as the “blue” Moon because it appears bluish.
Some people believe that the full moon can affect human behavior, but not many studies have been done to confirm this. However, the ocean’s tides rise and fall in time with the moon’s cycles, so there is at least some connection between these natural phenomena.
In addition, the number of moon phases in a year can vary due to the way that the Earth rotates. This creates a four hour oscillation in the apparent progression of the lunar phases that adds another factor to the number. It is not a significant factor, but it does have an effect on the number of moon phases in a year.
Last Quarter
There are four main moon phases in a year. These are New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Last Quarter.
The Moon’s phase cycle changes as the moon moves across Earth’s orbit. A lunar cycle, or synodic month, is about 29.5 days long.
As the Moon moves closer to Earth, its gravitational pull changes — and the Earth’s large bodies of water respond with higher tides.
These effects may also play a role in how your body reacts to the changing lunar cycles. A 2013 study found that men’s blood pressure and heart rate decreased by about 5 mm Hg during New Moon and Full Moon phases.
The two half moon phases are called First Quarter and Last Quarter because they occur when the Moon is, respectively, one- and three-quarters of the way around its orbit from New Moon.
Waxing Crescent
The waxing crescent is a special phase of the moon. It’s the transitional stage between the new moon and first quarter phases.
People born during the waxing crescent phase are usually adventurous, enthusiastic, and creative; they enjoy trying new things and facing new challenges. However, they can also be a bit stubborn at times.
The Moon goes through 8 phases during its cycle around the Earth. The first phase is a new moon, the second is a first-quarter moon, the third is a full moon, and the eighth is a waning crescent.
Waxing Gibbous
The Moon has long been an important part of human culture, used as a natural calendar, diviner and predictor of weather, plant growth and spiritual energies. Its monthly cycle as it passes through its phases provides a natural rhythm that has been observed throughout history and beyond, giving life a clear sense of direction.
The Waxing Gibbous phase reflects this idea, as it symbolizes the point in time when things are coming to fruition and a person is nearing the end of a phase of development. This is why people often use the waxing gibbous as a chance to reevaluate their goals and priorities.
The Waxing Gibbous is a stage in the lunar cycle during which the Sun’s rays illuminate more of the Moon’s surface. This illumination increases until the Full Moon phase. After this phase, the Moon’s illumination decreases until the Waning Gibbous.
Waning Crescent
The Waning Crescent phase is an intermediate Moon phase that occurs between the last quarter and New Moon. As the days pass, the illuminated part of the Moon gets smaller and smaller until it resembles a thin crescent.
Psychic and medium Natalie Kuna suggests using this phase of the Moon to evaluate old habits and relationships, and decide whether you’re ready to let them go. Or, perhaps you’re ready to cleanse your life and open space for new manifestations to grow.
The waxing crescent is the most visible Moon phase, and can be seen before sunrise in the northern hemisphere. During this phase, the Moon is almost fully lit on the left side and half of its disk is in darkness. This continues until the entire Moon is dark at New Moon. It is the final intermediate Moon phase before a new cycle begins.
Waxing Partial
The waxing Partial is an intermediate phase in the moon’s apparent shape. This phase occurs between the new moon and full moon, or the full moon and new moon.
It lasts around 15 days and 14 hours on average. It’s called “waxing” because the moon appears thicker to us during this time.
This period of the moon’s cycle is also when it provides the darkest skies. During this time, the moon can be difficult to photograph with longer exposures because only a small part of its illumination is visible to our eyes.
It’s important to understand the phases of the moon to know when and how to photograph them. The waxing Partial is a good time for star trails, but you’ll need to use the technique known as “star stacking” to achieve long exposures.
Waning Quarter
The number of moon phases in a year is affected by how long it takes the Moon to orbit Earth. A cycle of phases lasts about 29.5 days on average.
During this cycle, the illuminated portion of the Moon gradually shrinks until it looks like a thin crescent on the left side. From there, the crescent gradually fades into a waning gibbous moon.
When the waning gibbous phase ends, we see a new moon again. This means that the complete cycle has repeated itself once again.
Waning Half
The Waning Half, sometimes called the Second Quarter, is a phase where the Moon appears to be more than one-half illuminated but not fully. This part of the moon can be seen from most locations on Earth.
The waning half of the Moon is a time to let go of old habits, negative thinking, and stress. It is also a good time to focus on your spirituality and communication with others.
The Moon cycles through eight phases each year. Four of these phases are known as primary (or principal) phases. Each phase is about a week long.