What are the Moon Phases this Weekend?

Understanding the phases of the moon can be extremely useful, whether you’re an astrologer or just an ordinary sky-gazing enthusiast who wants to know what to expect in the night sky. This weekend, there are a few significant moon phases that are worth observing.

New Moon

The new moon refers to the phase when the moon is completely dark and therefore invisible from Earth. This weekend, the new moon will fall on Saturday, July 10th. During this phase, the moon is positioned between the earth and the sun, and the side of the moon that is facing the earth is not illuminated by sunlight. This makes the sky particularly dark, making it an excellent time for stargazing.

Waxing Crescent Moon

Following the new moon, the next phase is the waxing crescent moon. This phase occurs when a small sliver of the moon is visible from Earth. During this phase, the moon’s illuminated portion is increasing on a daily basis. This weekend, the waxing crescent moon will be visible on Sunday, July 11th.

First Quarter Moon

The first quarter moon is the third phase of the lunar cycle. During this phase, the moon is half-illuminated and half-dark. It appears as a semi-circle in the sky. This weekend, the first quarter moon will be visible on Monday, July 12th. It is an excellent time to observe the moon’s craters and valleys with a telescope.

What are the Moon Phases this Weekend? Your Complete Guide

As we all know, the Moon goes through different phases every month, which are fascinating to observe. Many people love to watch the Moon whether it’s just for fun or for astronomy. However, the most common question that people often ask is what the Moon phases are this weekend. In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about the Moon phases this weekend, along with some other relevant information.

What are the Moon Phases?

Before diving into the Moon phases this weekend, let’s first refresh our memory with what the Moon phases are. The phases of the Moon refer to how much of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun as seen from Earth. The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to orbit around the Earth and during its orbit, different portions of the Moon are illuminated by the Sun, which causes its phases.

There are eight distinct phases of the Moon, which are:

New Moon

This phase occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, and therefore, the side of the Moon that faces Earth is not illuminated.

Waxing Crescent

In this phase, a small sliver of the Moon is visible as it appears to grow day by day.

First Quarter

During the first quarter phase, half of the Moon appears illuminated, which means it’s waxing to become a full moon.

Waxing Gibbous

As the Moon continues to grow, more than half of the Moon appears illuminated, and it’s called a waxing gibbous.

Full Moon

This is the most famous phase of the Moon, also called a Hunter’s Moon. The entire Moon appears illuminated by the Sun, and it looks like a bright, round ball in the sky.

Waning Gibbous

After the full moon phase, the light begins to recede, and the Moon appears to shrink, which is called a waning gibbous.

Last Quarter

When the Moon has completed half of its journey and starts to shrink, it’s called the last quarter phase.

Waning Crescent

The last phase of the Moon is a waning crescent, which appears as a thin slice of the Moon, shrinking with every passing day until it becomes a new moon.

What are the Moon Phases this Weekend?

Now, let’s answer the most asked question, what are the Moon phases this weekend? This weekend, we are going to witness a Waxing Gibbous Moon. This means more than half of the Moon will appear illuminated by the Sun. Waxing gibbous phases are great for Moon observing, allowing us to see shadows on the Moon’s surface and slightly elevated details.

On the other hand, the next Full Moon will occur on November 19th, and it’s the best time to watch the full moon since it is closer to the Earth than usual and appears brighter and larger than other full moons.

When is the Best Time to See the Moon?

The best time to see the Moon varies depending on your location and the Moon phase. As the Moon goes through its phases, its position in the sky and visibility change. However, in general, the best time to observe the Moon is when it’s high in the sky, away from buildings or obstructions.

Moreover, it’s best to observe the Moon on a clear night when there is no cloud coverage or light pollution. Additionally, use binoculars or a telescope to get a better and closer view of the Moon’s surface features.

What Are the Moon Phases This Weekend?

If you’re looking to go stargazing or simply want to keep track of the moon phases, it’s important to know what’s happening in the sky this weekend. Here’s a breakdown of the moon phases for this weekend, along with some helpful tips on viewing and understanding the different phases.

What Are Moon Phases?

Before we dive into the specific phases for this weekend, let’s take a brief moment to define what moon phases are. The moon goes through a variety of phases as it orbits around the Earth. These phases are caused by the relative position of the moon, Earth, and the sun. As the moon orbits around the Earth, different parts of the moon are illuminated by the sun, creating different phases of the moon.

There are eight primary moon phases – new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Each of these phases is marked by the amount of illumination visible on the moon.

The Moon Phases This Weekend

For this weekend, we are currently in the waning gibbous phase. This phase occurs after the full moon phase and before the third quarter phase. During the waning gibbous phase, less than half but more than a quarter of the moon is illuminated by the sun.

On Friday, the moon will be in the waning gibbous phase and will be visible in the early morning sky. On Saturday, the moon will move into the third quarter phase. During this phase, exactly half of the moon is illuminated by the sun, and the other half is in shadow.

Viewing the Moon Phases

Viewing the different moon phases can be a fun and educational activity, whether you’re watching from your backyard or observing with a telescope. To get the best view of the moon, it’s recommended to wait until the sky is dark, and the moon has risen.

One helpful tip for viewing the moon is to use binoculars or a telescope. These tools can help you see the moon’s craters, mountains, and other features in more detail. Another helpful tip is to look for the moon when it’s low on the horizon, as it can appear larger and more orange due to atmospheric distortion.

Understanding the Moon Phases

Understanding the different moon phases can help you appreciate the moon’s beauty and understand its role in our solar system. For example, during the new moon phase, the moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun, and the side of the moon that faces Earth is in shadow. During the full moon phase, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, and the entire illuminated side of the moon is visible from Earth.

It’s also important to note that the different moon phases can have an impact on Earth, particularly on the tides. During the new and full moon phases, the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon align, creating higher high tides and lower low tides.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the moon phases for this weekend include the waning gibbous phase on Friday and the third quarter phase on Saturday. By understanding and appreciating the different phases of the moon, we can gain a greater appreciation for our place in the universe and the natural world around us. So whether you’re looking to stargaze, learn more about the moon, or simply admire the beauty of the night sky, take some time this weekend to check out the moon and its phases.