If you are interested in Hindu mythology, there is a fascinating story behind the fading phase of the moon, known as Chandra's waxing and waning.
In the Mahabharata, specifically in the Shalya Parva, Daksha curses Chandra for his preferential treatment of his wife Rohini over his other 27 wives.
As a result of this curse, Chandra suffers from Kshayaroga (a wasting disease), causing him to wane and lose vitality.
Another significant account involves Lord Ganesha. After a feast, Ganesha fell off his mount and spilt his food. Chandra laughed at him, which angered Ganesha.
In retaliation, Ganesha cursed Chandra to lose his beauty and shine. However, upon Chandra's pleas for mercy, Ganesha modified the curse so that Chandra would wax and wane rather than lose his light entirely.
This is just a single dimension of the fading of the moon. However, there is another dimension to the moon's waxing and waning cycle. Can you guess? It's the scientific part.
The scientific explanation for the moon's phases is due to its position in relation to the Earth and the sun, causing different portions of the moon to be illuminated at different times.
So are you ready to know the different phases of the moon and how they occur? Let's explore the fascinating science behind the moon's changing appearance throughout its cycle.
What are the Different Phases of the Moon?
The Moon goes through eight distinct phases during its approximately 29.5-day lunar cycle. These phases are a result of the Moon's orbit around Earth and the way sunlight illuminates its surface. Here are the different phases of the moon:
Phases of the Moon
- New Moon: The Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, making it invisible from Earth because the sunlit side is facing away from us.
- Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of the moon begins to be illuminated as it moves in its orbit, appearing as a crescent shape that grows larger.
- First Quarter: Half of the moon's surface is illuminated, and it appears as a half-moon. This occurs about a week after the new moon.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon's surface is illuminated as it continues to wax towards a full moon.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is illuminated, occurring when the Moon is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun.
- Waning Gibbous: After the full moon, the illuminated portion begins to decrease, but more than half remains visible.
- Last Quarter (Third Quarter): Again, half of the moon's surface is visible, but this time it is the opposite half from the first quarter.
- Waning Crescent: A small crescent of light remains visible as the moon continues to wane until it returns to a new moon phase.
These phases reflect how much of the sunlit side of the Moon we can see from Earth, changing daily as both Earth and the Moon move in their respective orbits.
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What causes the Different Phases of the Moon?
Source: Britannica
The different phases of the Moon are caused by its orbit around Earth and the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun. Here’s a detailed explanation:
- Illumination by the Sun: The Moon does not produce its own light; instead, it reflects sunlight. As the Moon orbits Earth, different portions of its illuminated side become visible from our perspective on Earth.
- Orbital Positioning: The Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete one cycle of phases, transitioning through eight main phases.
- Tidal Locking: The same side of the Moon always faces Earth due to tidal locking, meaning we only see variations in how much of its illuminated side is visible.
- Cycle Duration: While it takes about 27.3 days for the Moon to orbit Earth, the lunar month (from one new moon to the next) lasts approximately 29.5 days due to Earth's movement around the Sun.
Are there Different Kinds of Moons?
Yes, there are different kinds of moons, particularly full moons, which have various names and characteristics based on their appearance or timing. Here are some notable types of moons:
Types of Moons
- Full Moon: This occurs when the entire face of the moon is illuminated by the sun, making it fully visible from Earth.
- Supermoon: A supermoon appears larger and brighter than a typical full moon because it occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit (perigee).
- Micromoon: The opposite of a supermoon occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth (apogee), making it appear smaller and dimmer.
- Blood Moon: This term refers to the reddish appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. During this event, Earth's shadow covers the Moon, and the remaining light refracted through Earth's atmosphere gives it a red hue.
- Blue Moon: A blue moon is not blue. It refers to either the second full moon occurring within a single calendar month or the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.
- Harvest Moon: The harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. Historically, it provided extra light for farmers to harvest crops at night.
- Wolf Moon: This is the name given to the first full moon in January, for the wolves heard howling during winter nights.
- Snow Moon: The February full moon is called the snow moon due to heavy snowfall during this month.
- Worm Moon: Occurring in March, this name comes from the earthworms that appear as the soil begins to thaw.
- Pink Moon: This April full moon is named after pink wildflowers that bloom during this time, not because it appears pink.
- Strawberry Moon: The June full moon is named for the strawberry harvest season.
- Buck Moon: This July full moon marks the time when male deer (bucks) begin to grow their antlers.
- Sturgeon Moon: Named for the fish that are abundant in August, this full moon is significant for Native American tribes.
- Corn Moon: This September full moon coincides with corn harvesting time.
- Hunter's Moon: The Hunter's Moon occurs in October and marks the beginning of the hunting season. It provided light for hunters tracking game during autumn nights.
- Frost Moon: The November full moon signals the arrival of frost and colder weather.
- Cold Moon: Known as the Long Nights Moon, this December full moon occurs during the longest nights of the year.
How does the Distance of the Moon from Earth affect its Appearance?
Source: space.com
The distance of the Moon from Earth significantly affects its appearance, primarily in terms of size and brightness. Here’s how this phenomenon works:
1) Perigee and Apogee
- Perigee: This is the point in the Moon's orbit where it is closest to Earth, approximately 363,104 kilometres (225,623 miles) away. When the Moon is at perigee, it appears larger and brighter in the sky, often referred to as a "supermoon." This effect can make the Moon look about 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it is at its farthest point.
- Apogee: Conversely, apogee is when the Moon is farthest from Earth, about 405,696 kilometres (252,088 miles) away. At this distance, the moon appears smaller and dimmer compared to when it is at perigee.
2) Visual Illusions
The Moon Illusion can also affect how we perceive the moon's size. When the moon is near the horizon, it often looks larger than when it is high in the sky due to a psychological effect rather than an actual change in size. This illusion occurs because our brains interpret the moon's size relative to objects on the horizon.
3) Atmospheric Effects
The appearance of the Moon can also be influenced by atmospheric conditions. When the Moon is low on the horizon, its light passes through more of Earth's atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and making it appear more yellow or orange. This atmospheric scattering does not change its physical size but alters its visual characteristics.
Orbital Dynamics
The Moon's elliptical orbit leads to variations in distance that can subtly affect its apparent size and brightness over time. These changes are relatively small but can be noticeable during specific events like supermoons or when observing lunar eclipses.
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