Steve from Yesterthread – you can indeed tell time by the phase of the moon! The illuminated edge of the moon is always nearest the sun, unless the moon is full. The full moon is at opposition, which means that it rises as the sun is setting. The “new” moons rises and sets WITH the sun (that’s why we sometimes have eclipses.) As the moon goes through its waxing phases (waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous), it rises a little bit later each day, follows the sun across the sky, and sets a bit later each night after sunset. The first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight.
After opposition, the waning moon rises a little bit later each night after sunset, and sets during the daylight hours. That particular moon in yesterday’s “Pluggers” would rise sometime after midnight – and yes, it would still be a waning crescent when it sets – around NOON the next day! But since it appears to be dark outside, the kid must be going out in the wee hours!
The way to remember which moon is which is pretty simple: in the waxing moon, the right side of the moon is illuminated, and it’s curved like the letter “D.” Think of it as the “Debut” of the moon cycle. In the waning phases, the left edge is lit up, and it’s curved like a “C” – the “Conclusion” of the moon cycle.
This applies only in the northern hemisphere – down under, the C & D curves are reversed, and the sun and moon appears in the northern sky rather than the southern as they do here in Pennsylvania. Perhaps yesterday’s Pluggers are Aussie, or South African, or Argentinian bears – but somehow I doubt it!
Steve didn’t understand how we can tell time from the moon phase. I explained how that works.
Briefly:
“D” curve, rises during the Daylight, sets after the sunset.
“C” curve, rises during the night, sets in the daytime.
“Full” moon, “Fully” across the sky from the sun, rises at sunset, sets at sunrise.
And now that you know this, you will always recognize the “wrong moon” in comics, movies, etc…..
anserman38 about 15 years ago
Yup. the best seats in the in the house and no one can say “Excuse me you’re in my seat!”
WoodEye about 15 years ago
As a kid I used to do that at the drive in, until I got a little older.
TheWildSow about 15 years ago
Steve from Yesterthread – you can indeed tell time by the phase of the moon! The illuminated edge of the moon is always nearest the sun, unless the moon is full. The full moon is at opposition, which means that it rises as the sun is setting. The “new” moons rises and sets WITH the sun (that’s why we sometimes have eclipses.) As the moon goes through its waxing phases (waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous), it rises a little bit later each day, follows the sun across the sky, and sets a bit later each night after sunset. The first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight.
After opposition, the waning moon rises a little bit later each night after sunset, and sets during the daylight hours. That particular moon in yesterday’s “Pluggers” would rise sometime after midnight – and yes, it would still be a waning crescent when it sets – around NOON the next day! But since it appears to be dark outside, the kid must be going out in the wee hours!
The way to remember which moon is which is pretty simple: in the waxing moon, the right side of the moon is illuminated, and it’s curved like the letter “D.” Think of it as the “Debut” of the moon cycle. In the waning phases, the left edge is lit up, and it’s curved like a “C” – the “Conclusion” of the moon cycle.
This applies only in the northern hemisphere – down under, the C & D curves are reversed, and the sun and moon appears in the northern sky rather than the southern as they do here in Pennsylvania. Perhaps yesterday’s Pluggers are Aussie, or South African, or Argentinian bears – but somehow I doubt it!
WoodEye about 15 years ago
TheWildSow - Brevity is the soul of wit. WHO CARES!
lewisbower about 15 years ago
Woodeye You did that at the drive in til you got older
I did it until I got wiser
TheWildSow about 15 years ago
LOL – excuse the looonnnnnggg explanation!
Steve didn’t understand how we can tell time from the moon phase. I explained how that works.
Briefly:
“D” curve, rises during the Daylight, sets after the sunset. “C” curve, rises during the night, sets in the daytime. “Full” moon, “Fully” across the sky from the sun, rises at sunset, sets at sunrise.
And now that you know this, you will always recognize the “wrong moon” in comics, movies, etc…..
[/Astronomy Pedant]
Misha1995 almost 15 years ago
Gee. We have both in my southWESTERN state.