How to determine the phases of the moon. Moon phase now, astronomical characteristics of lunar phases and the position of the moon in space online

A person lives all his earthly life, constantly in contact with such celestial bodies as the Sun and the Moon. The first refers to the concept of "star", the second - the planet, which is a satellite of the Earth.

And no matter how people wish it, both the Sun and the Moon influence the internal state, physical health and other processes that occur within the Blue Planet.

How to track the cycles and phases of the moon (by months and days), predict favorable days in 2018? Read about it in this article.

Characteristics of the Moon

The name itself in translation means "light". It is known that the satellite revolves around the Earth in an orbit not round, but oval. The period is approximately 27.3 days (because the lunar calendar consists of 29 days).

It is known that the satellite is gradually moving away from the blue planet (by 4 centimeters per year), and therefore is a consistently unwinding spiral.

The celestial body in its structure consists of a core and three layers of the mantle. The outer surface consists of loose lunar soil - regolith. It has a low reflectivity. In color, the Moon seems to be almost monochromatic, yellowish, with barely distinguishable spots.

But there are times when it takes on an ashy hue.

Significance for planet earth

Thanks to the Moon, people were able to learn how to determine a new week or the beginning of a new month (just like with the help of the Sun to celebrate a new year).

Each of these indicators is the basis of the lunar calendar, which is used to understand the movement of heavenly bodies. For example, the phases of the moon by month in 2018.

The influence of the Earth's satellite on the life and health (mental and physical) of a person has long been noticed by observant people.

About the phases of the moon

People from Earth can only see the part of the Moon's surface illuminated by the Sun, which revolves around the Blue Planet. There are days when its thin curved strip is visible - the “sickle” (new moon), and there is a bright circle (full moon).

It is this successive change of visible parts of the Moon's surface that is called the cycle of lunar phases. There are four of them (basic) and the same number of intermediate states - depending on the location of the satellite from the Earth.

The lunar calendar consists of 29 days. And each phase of the Earth's satellite passes in 7 days (that's why there are the same number of days in a week!).

The phases have their own name, and each of them has its own characteristics, which also manifest themselves in the states of people and the implementation of life processes:

  1. New moon.
  2. First lunar phase.
  3. First quarter - second phase.
  4. Full moon.
  5. Third phase.
  6. Waning moon.
  7. Fourth phase.
  8. Old Moon.

Description of each phase

  • It is typical for the new moon that the celestial body itself is not yet visible, but the health of some people deteriorates somewhat on such days, apathy and irritability may be felt. During this period, it is not recommended to start new and important things.
  • The first lunar phase is characterized by the fact that it is already being shown and is visible from the Earth as a "sickle". This period is favorable for new projects (in the field of business, creativity, sports), as well as doing household chores.
  • The second phase allows you to already see half of the moon, but for a person this period is fraught with the possibility of getting sick or overworking.
  • During the full moon, the Earth's satellite reflects the sunlight most brightly and already looks like a luminous circle. People feel a surge of energy (including emotional), readiness to perform complex tasks and easily carry out many things.
  • In the third phase, the Moon again decreases in size, goes into decline. If before that a person had accumulated a sufficient amount of positive energy, then during this period he will feel normal.
  • With the waning moon, it is recommended to take time for your health and appearance.
  • When the fourth lunar phase comes, then a thin “sickle” is again visible from the Earth. The time is suitable for thinking about life, putting in order not only the inner world, but also the outer one (cleaning, getting rid of trash, and so on).
  • When the Moon becomes old, a person can feel a decline in energy in himself, which is accompanied by apathy, sensitivity to the words and actions of other people.

Other phenomena involving the Moon

A supermoon occurs when the moon approaches the Earth at its minimum distance and looks brighter and larger. This happens during new moon and full moon.

An eclipse is an unusual phenomenon during which the Moon is in a cone of shadow cast by the Blue Planet. And if the satellite is completely placed in this shadow, the eclipse is called total, if only part of it is called partial.

These phenomena will also occur in 2018: 2 supermoons and the same number of lunar eclipses.

Calendar for 2018

Since there are four main lunar phases, the calendar is built according to the days and time of the beginning of each of them: new moon, waxing moon, full moon, waning moon.

In 2018, the phases of the moon by day are as follows.

In January:

  • 1st - waxing moon;
  • full moon - 2nd;
  • waning moon - January 3-16;
  • the new moon will be on January 17;
  • waxing moon - January 18-30;
  • full moon - January 31st.

Also on January 2, at 5.24, there is a supermoon, and on January 31, 2018, at 13.51, there is a lunar eclipse.

In February:

  • waning moon - February 1-15;
  • new moon - 16th;
  • waxing moon - February 17-28.
  • 1st - waxing moon;
  • full moon - 2nd;
  • waning moon - March 3-16;
  • new moon - March 17;
  • waxing moon - March 18-30;
  • full moon - March 31st.

In April:

  • waning moon - April 1-15;
  • new moon - 16th;
  • waxing moon - April 17-29;
  • full moon - 30 April.
  • waning moon - May 1-14;
  • new moon - 15th;
  • waxing moon - May 16-28;
  • full moon - May 29;
  • waning moon - May 30-31.
  • waning moon - June 1-12;
  • new moon - 13th;
  • the growing moon - June 14-27;
  • the full moon will be on June 28;
  • waning moon - June 29-30.
  • waning moon - July 1-12;
  • the new moon will be on the 13th;
  • waxing moon - July 14-26;
  • the full moon will be on July 27;
  • waning moon - July 28-31.

Also on July 13, 2018, at 5.47, there is a supermoon, and on the 27th, at 23.22, there is a lunar eclipse.

In August:

  • waning moon - August 1-10;
  • new moon - 11th;
  • the growing moon - August 12-25;
  • the full moon will be on the 26th;
  • waning moon - August 27-31.

In September:

  • waning moon - September 1-8;
  • new moon - 9th;
  • waxing moon - September 10-24;
  • full moon - 25th;
  • waning moon - September 26-30.

In October:

  • waning moon - October 1-8;
  • new moon - 9th;
  • waxing moon - October 10-23;
  • full moon - 24th;
  • waning moon - from the 25th to the 31st.

In November:

  • waning moon - November 1-6;
  • new moon - 7th;
  • the growing moon - November 8-22;
  • full moon - 23rd;
  • waning moon - November 24-30.

In December:

  • waning moon - December 1-6;
  • new moon - 7th;
  • waxing moon - December 8-21;
  • full moon - 22nd;
  • waning moon - December 23-31.

Favorable days of the lunar calendar

Everyone has good and bad days. First of all, this is again connected with the phases of the satellite.

For example, the first quarter after the new moon is considered a favorable phase of the moon. These days it is recommended to start new projects, build relationships with people, and so on. Most of all, there is a sense of fullness of energy, good concentration.

Also successful are the periods when an aspect of 60 and 120 degrees is created between the celestial bodies - the Moon and the Sun.

All this information can be specified in the sections on the phases of the moon by months for a year.

Earth, the radius of which is approximately a quarter of the Earth's. At night, we see its disk, differently illuminated by the invisible Sun at that time. The degree of illumination depends on the relative position of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. In total, there are four degrees of illumination, which are called "phases".

The cycle of the lunar phases is repeated after about 30 days - more precisely, from 29.25 to 29.83 days. The line of illumination - the terminator - at the same time moves smoothly over the surface of the natural satellite of the Earth, but only four positions are accepted to be distinguished, referring all intermediate options to one of them. Therefore, it is believed that for each cycle there are four lunar phases, which are also called "quarters". You can visually determine which of the phases the Moon is in at the moment - there are simple mnemonic rules for this.

Each new cycle begins with a new moon - at the western edge of the visible disk on the first day a very narrow illuminated crescent is visible, and with each subsequent night its width increases. During this first phase of the cycle, as well as in the second following it, the Moon is called growing. If you conventionally draw a vertical line to the visible sickle, you get the letter "P" - the first in the word "growing". When the visible crescent of the natural satellite grows to half the disk in its widest part, the first phase will end and the second will begin - this happens after about 7.5 days. The second phase - or the second quarter - lasts the same amount and by the end of it, the entire visible disk of the Earth's satellite turns out to be luminous. On the last day of the second phase, the full moon sets in, and the natural satellite most justifies the title of "night star".

The next two quarters of the Moon is called "waning" or "aging". During this period, her luminous area every night more and more resembles the letter "C" - the first in the word "aging". The process occurs in reverse order - the width of the illuminated part of the disk decreases every night, and when only half of it remains, the third phase will end and the last one will begin. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Moon faces the Earth with its unlit side.

In 29.6 days, the moon goes through its full monthly cycle from one new moon to the next. During this time, the relative position of the earth, sun and moon changes, and with it the shape of the illuminated part of the moon visible from the earth changes. The lunar cycle is usually divided into four phases. First two phases growing moon (new moon and first quarter), followed by two phases waning moon (full moon and last quarter). Each phase lasts approximately 7.5 days.

Instruction

You can visually determine the phase of the moon in our northern hemisphere using mnemonic rules - associations with lettering. If the crescent of the moon resembles the letter "C", then this is the "Aging" moon, which corresponds to the third and fourth phases of the lunar cycle. It remains only to estimate "by eye" what proportion of this natural satellite remained illuminated - if more than a quarter, then this is the third phase, and if less - the fourth. If the lunar crescent is turned in the opposite direction and you can mentally add a vertical line to it to get the letter “P”, then this is the “Growing” moon, which corresponds to the first and second phases of the cycle. If the visible part is less than a quarter of the disk, then this is the first quarter, if more - the second.

If you need a more accurate definition or you need to know the phase of the moon on any particular day in history, then you can use the Internet resources that provide such a service. For example, on the site redday.ru/moon, in order to find out the phase of the moon for some day, you need to set the values ​​\u200b\u200bin the drop-down lists for the day, week and year. Here you can also set the time to the nearest minute. Then select the city you are interested in from the drop-down list of cities. There is also a checkbox that sets the correction for "summer" time. Having installed everything and clicking the button labeled "Display", you will receive a picture corresponding to the phase of the moon for a given day, data about the current quarter of the moon for that day, as well as the date and time the beginning of this phases, the ordinal number of the day in the lunar month (the "age" of the moon), the percentage of the visible surface and a lot of information characterizing the lunar phase of the desired day.

There are also application programs that can be found on the network and installed on a computer if you need to find out phases moon you have arises quite often. For example, TNR MoonLight, Moon Calendar CE, Desktop Lunar Calendar, etc.

Do you want to know what the Moon is today, in what phase, and in what sign of the Zodiac is the night luminary? Our online calendar will help you find out! Using our service, you can track not only what lunar day is today, but also the rising and setting of the moon, its position now. The calculation is made taking into account the time of the Moscow time zone.

Moon phases

First phase of the moon - new moon

Neutral phase. During this period, it is worth refraining from conducting any serious magical rites, because a person feels unnecessary and abandoned by everyone. If today is a new moon, but there may be a slight mental deviation in all signs of the Zodiac. But don't worry, it's normal. The force will grow with the moon, and all the energy will come back.

The second phase of the moon - Growing

At this time, it is best to make plans, but it is too early to start new achievements. Forces are only growing, the body is getting stronger. Luck is back, the reset of all senses has begun.

If today is a full moon, then there is already enough strength to accomplish important things “here and now”. It is recommended to control emotions during this lunar phase. Now the emotional background will fluctuate very often, but don't let that scare you. If today is a full moon, then insomnia is possible. If the excess of positive energy is very high, then pour it into art or sports. Meditation and analysis of everything that happens will help to calm down. Today, solitude with nature is welcome. Now you should take a break and get out to rest in the forest or in the park.

third phase of the moon

Today, the time has come when a person can do absolutely everything that he dreamed of. All things are going according to plan, as planned.

Fourth phase of the moon

Incredible productivity is on the wane. Everything falls out of hand, energy fades. Depression and malaise may return. The moon today negatively affects many people, takes away mental and physical strength. However, there is no need to succumb to melancholy - this period will soon pass, and you will again be able to enjoy the bright colors of life.

The end of the fourth phase is represented by a small crescent in the sky. The mysterious stage when a person is neither happy nor unhappy. Everything starts again. The circle of life closes, as it were, and people feel completely different. During this period, pay special attention to your emotional state, cultivate a reverent attitude towards yourself.

Why is it important to know what the moon is now

If you are going to perform this or that magical rite, then it is extremely important for you to know what moon is today. For example, it is customary to read conspiracies and prayers for the growth of wealth, for the emergence of love relationships. It is believed that the growing night light will be able to attract positive events into your life. On the contrary, it is supposed to get rid of something unnecessary: ​​from a protracted illness, from failure, and so on.

The night luminary affects the representatives of the zodiacal circle in different ways, enhances their qualities. Knowing your features, you can use them for your own benefit. It's even easier to do than to say.

Qualities of the signs of the zodiac:

  • - leadership, love of life, harmony;
  • - tranquility, communication, ideas;
  • - emotionality, amorousness, sociability;
  • - subjectivity, isolation, vulnerability;
  • — courage, understanding of rules and laws, creativity;

During its rotation around the Earth, the Moon is in different positions relative to the planet and the Sun. Sunlight falls on the satellite, illuminating its movement. The visible parts of the lunar disk in the sky change during the lunar month, which lasts 29.53 days. This is how the moon phases change.

The lunar month consists of four phases, including the periods of new moon and full moon. In the first and second quarter, the Moon grows, in the third and fourth, respectively, it decreases. Each phase of the moon lasts about 7 days. It is not difficult to learn how to identify them, focusing on the visible presence of the night star. In addition, you can use the lunar calendar with a detailed description of each lunar day and its impact on a person and events.

The phases of the moon determine the tides on the planet. Not only the movement of a mass of water depends on these changes, but also the energy of a person, his emotions and physical well-being. Each lunar phase affects the development of situations in all spheres of life: public and purely personal.

The first phase begins with the new moon, which falls in the daytime. Moon, Earth and Sun are in a straight line. With its unlit side, the Moon is turned towards the Earth. At this phase, the moon is not visible from Earth. Therefore, to accurately establish the new moon, they often turn to astrological tables. The new moon is felt as a change, inspired expectation, hope. But it should be noted that for each person the sensations are very individual and the specifics can vary markedly.

Over time, a very narrow thin crescent begins to appear in the night sky - the edge of the surface of the Earth's satellite illuminated by the Sun. The moon at this time is called "growing" or "young month". In general, this is a favorable period for a person. After a possible depression, decline and some relaxation, he is tuned in to a surge of strength and development. In this lunar phase, people usually accumulate energy potential, adjusting to more active rhythms.

The second phase of the moon occurs a week after the new moon. The moon is half lit, with the convex side to the right, which is very easy to navigate by determining the phase. During this period, the energy of the body increases. Emotionally, a person feels more free, liberated, but at the same time his emotions are under control. However, the closer the time of the change of the lunar phases, the more likely the excess energy in the body, which, without the necessary control, can turn into excitation.

The second phase of the moon ends with a full moon two weeks after the new moon. It's quite easy to define it. Being directly opposite the Sun, the Moon during this period is characterized by the special brightness of its full disk. The full moon is a dynamic period of phase change in the human body, the transition from the accumulation of energy potential to its waste.

The third phase of the moon begins immediately after the full moon. Every day the lunar one loses its round outlines, “curving” to the left. By the end of this week, it will only be half-lit. The moon is waning, and with it, as a rule, the accumulated and enthusiasm of a person.

With the fourth phase, the night luminary continues to decrease. The crescent moon gets thinner and narrower until it disappears from the night sky altogether. The state of a person during this period is characterized by a decrease in energy levels, some fatigue, a desire to rest in anticipation of a new lunar cycle.

Latitude: 55.75, Longitude: 37.62 Time zone: Europe/Moscow (UTC+03:00) Moon phase calculation on 1.03.2019 (12:00) To calculate the phase of the moon for your city, register or login.

Moon phase today, March 23, 2019

On the date 23.03.2019 in 16:12 The moon is in phase "Waning moon". it 17 lunar day in the lunar calendar. Moon in the sign of the zodiac Scorpio ♏. Light percentage The moon is 93%. Sunrise moons at 22:03 and sunset at 07:49.

Chronology of lunar days

  • 17 lunar day from 20:38 03/22/2019 to 22:03 03/23/2019
  • 18 lunar day from 22:03 03/23/2019 until the next day

Influence of the moon March 23, 2019

Moon in the zodiac sign Scorpio (+ )

Moon in sign Scorpion. The time has come to make the most important decisions. Improved mental activity, increased ability to concentrate on the essence of the problem and a high level of self-criticism are the best way to separate the truly important from the superficial and insignificant.

You can boldly take on new endeavors, develop business plans for new projects and impose on yourself all sorts of obligations that will be feasible.

17 lunar day (+ )

March 23, 2019 at 16:12 - 17 lunar day. A day of feeling the joy of being, gaining inner freedom. Ideal for marriage, liberation, sublimation of sexual energy.

Waning Moon (+ )

The moon is in phase Waning moon. The third lunar phase covers the period from the full moon to the beginning of the fourth quarter. On the full moon, the peak of the accumulation of vital and psychic energy is noted, which subsequently gradually decreases.

During this period, activity begins to decrease, there is a frequent change of states, ideas and judgments. When the experience and forces accumulated over the past phases continue to energetically be launched into the implementation of plans.

During this period of the lunar month, the first results of the efforts invested before are already discernible. The occasional change of mood can relate not only to the business area, but also to personal life.

It's a great time to let go of old habits and try something new. In relationships, this is a time of rapprochement and romance at the highest level. The third phase is great for self-development, self-improvement and creation.

Influence of the day of the week (±)

Day of the week - Saturday, this day falls under the influence of Saturn, a planet with a strong, heavy energy, in charge of work and learning.

On this day, it is best to deal with the resolution of the tasks that have accumulated over the week, drawing up plans for the following days, figuratively speaking, to unravel the tied knots. Estimated upcoming costs, as well as business plans, compiled on Saturday, most often turn out to be successful.

Try to hold business meetings on Saturday, never postpone them to Sunday.