Lunar Phases

The apparent shapes of the Moon as seen from the Earth, which are caused by the Moon's orbit of the Earth once every 29.5 days. The same phase will fall on the same date of the year according to the Saros cycle, every 18 years, 11 days, and eight hours. See our moon phases page for more information.

Resources

Phenomena, Myths and Fallacies

Radio Programs

A New Cycle Beginning a new lunar cycle Friday, May 24, 2013
Moon and Regulus Lining up some bright moonlight Friday, May 17, 2013
Long-Night Moon Lighting up the long night Thursday, December 27, 2012
Moon and Companions Taking a peek at the Moon’s backside Saturday, November 10, 2012
Harvest Moon Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Saturday, September 29, 2012
Blue Moon A “colorful” astronomical rarity Thursday, August 30, 2012
Moon, Spica, and Saturn Parsing the changes of the Moon Thursday, May 31, 2012
Annular Eclipse II Cycling through centuries of eclipses Sunday, May 20, 2012
Moon and Companions Reflections on a quarter Moon Sunday, January 15, 2012
More Moon and Venus Changing the face of the Moon Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Hunter’s Moon Giving the Moon a two-faced appearance Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Calendars Following the cycles of the sky Friday, September 23, 2011
Harvest Moon Balancing the Harvest Moon Sunday, September 11, 2011
New Moon Blazing through the lunar night Friday, July 1, 2011
First-Quarter Moon Half a Moon equals a quarter Monday, April 11, 2011
Harvest Moon A beautiful astronomical coincidence Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Blue Moon
Apollo Moon
Short-Night Moon
Moon and Venus
Long-Night Moon

Featured Images

First-quarter Moon
 Moonwatch Saturday, September 22, 2012
Lunar Sunrise Friday, June 12, 2009
Lots of Moonlight Thursday, December 11, 2008

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