When you look up at the moon in the sky, more than a quarter of its disk is illuminated from Earth. The exact fraction of the disk that can be seen varies depending on the moon phase.
There are eight phases of the moon, from new to full. Each phase is a part of a complete cycle, called a lunation.
First Quarter Phase
The First Quarter Phase is a special time on the lunar cycle. As the Moon moves closer to the New Moon, it begins to illuminate more than a quarter of its face. Depending on where you are on Earth, more than half of the Moon’s face will be illuminated (left half for those in the Northern Hemisphere and right half for those in the Southern Hemisphere).
This is a time of growth. It’s a time to take stock of your accomplishments and set new intentions. During this phase, you will need to be cautious and thoughtful in how you approach your goals.
You may have many ideas, but you may be feeling a little hesitant. As the First Quarter Phase progresses, you will be more confident in your actions.
However, you’ll also be feeling some challenges and obstacles. This is the perfect time to get in touch with your inner warrior and prepare yourself for a journey of self-discovery.
People born on the first quarter moon tend to be extremely strong-willed and determined. They want to become fitter than they were before, and they are not afraid to step out of their comfort zones and try new things.
They are also very good at setting goals, and they know that it’s important to finish them. They often find that they have to put in more work than they thought they would, but this is a sign that they are headed in the right direction.
In terms of relationships, those born on this phase tend to be very assertive and don’t hesitate to tell others what they need or want. They often take risks in business, and they make sure everyone involved is happy before moving forward.
If you are going through a break up or divorce, this is a good time to take a step back and reflect on your relationship with the other person. You may be able to figure out how to repair your relationship or you may need to give the other person a chance to show themselves.
The First Quarter Moon is also a great time to do some magic journaling and affirmations. You can use your sacred moon water in these rituals to help you focus on the progress you have made so far and what you still need to do.
Waxing Gibbous Phase
The Waxing Gibbous Phase is the final phase before a Full Moon. This is a good time to reflect and plan what you want to accomplish in your life in the coming year.
It also is a time to set aside anything that is holding you back from your goals, and to be prepared for what is about to happen. During this phase, be creative in finding ways to overcome any obstacles that are currently standing in your way.
As you’re working to achieve your goals during this waxing phase, you may find that you need to be more persistent in your efforts than usual. However, you must remember to be kind to yourself and not be overly ambitious or impatient.
In this phase, the moon is more than half illuminated and will grow even brighter over the next few days before reaching Full Moon. This will make it appear more spectacular than it ever has been before.
This is a great time to take part in any activities that help you get closer to your goals and dreams. This is the time to start any new projects you’ve been putting off for too long, and to take action on any dreams that you’ve had since childhood.
During the Waxing Gibbous phase, the moon is most visible in the eastern sky at sunset. It will rise in the west after dark and is likely to be in the western sky at sunrise, making it a perfect time to view stars.
The moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase for about 7 days before becoming fully illuminated as it approaches Full Moon. The moon is also a good time to observe stars because it will dominate the sky and less bright objects will be difficult to see.
The Moon phases change in an orderly fashion, and you can learn how to determine which phase it is in by observing the shadows it casts on the ground. During a waxing crescent phase, the shadow parts of the Moon will be on the left side of the ground; in a waning crescent phase, they will be on the right.
Third Quarter Phase
The Moon is at a point in its orbit around Earth where it is three-quarters of the way around. It is therefore called the Third Quarter or Final Quarter Moon, and more than a quarter of its face is visible to us from Earth. This is because the excess of ecliptic longitude over apparent solar longitude, or “the difference between the apparent position of the Sun and the Moon,” is about 270 degrees.
The lighted part of the Moon is the side that faces the Earth, and this face of the moon is very bright. This is because the Sun is causing the light from the Earth to reflect off the dark part of the moon.
Throughout this phase, the lighted part of the moon gets smaller and smaller every day. This is why we call this phase a “waxing” moon.
After the Full Moon, the lighted part of the moon gets even smaller until it is almost back to where it started. This is the Waning Crescent Phase, and it wanes until the lighted portion is completely gone.
A waning crescent moon is a good time to think about your life and what you want to add to it. Ask the universe for guidance in this stage of your journey and listen to your inner wisdom.
To better understand the phases of the Moon, it is important to remember that they occur in a cycle that repeats itself every 29.5 days. This means that each phase is about one month long, and they are always in the same order.
The progression of these phases is a product of the eccentric orbit of the Moon, which causes different parts of the Moon to be illuminated at different angles from the Earth’s perspective. This is a subtle change in the Moon’s appearance from night to night, but it does make the Moon look a little different each time you see it.
Another interesting factor to consider is that the Moon’s apparent progress through the phases of its orbit changes slightly depending on your location and date, so you may see an “oscillation” where the Moon appears to move more slowly above the horizon than below it.
Waning Crescent Phase
The waning crescent phase, or last quarter moon, occurs after the Full Moon and before a New Moon. It is an intermediate phase that serves as a transition between the two primary phases before and after it.
This is the final phase of the lunar cycle and it appears in the sky at the end of each month. It rises around midnight and sets in the morning before sunrise.
It is a good time to see the night sky and learn more about the moon. It is also an excellent time to practice meditation and journaling. The waning crescent moon is a time to reflect on your life and determine whether you are ready to begin a new chapter in your life.
When you see a waning crescent, you should be looking eastward. This is the direction that the moon will travel each day when it reaches this stage of the lunar cycle.
As the waning crescent phase progresses, it will get darker and smaller in the sky as it moves toward the next phase of the lunar cycle. The illuminated part of the moon will become thinner and thinner until it disappears from view altogether.
During the waning crescent phase, less than a quarter of the moon is visible from Earth. This is because the illuminated part of the moon is gradually getting thinner as the Moon slowly moves closer to the sun each day.
If you are interested in learning about the waning crescent phase of the moon, it is a great time to try a simple experiment with your hands. Hold your right hand out with the palm facing the sky and make a curve like a backward C with your thumb and forefinger. If the curve fits, then it is a waxing moon (increasing).
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Waning Crescent Moon will start on the left side of the Moon and diminish from right to left until it looks like a thin crescent on the right side. This is because the Northern Hemisphere is shaped differently than the Southern Hemisphere and the Moon is seen in a different way.