Moon phases reveal the passage of time within the evening sky. Some nights once we lookup on the moon, it’s full and brilliant; typically it’s only a sliver of silvery mild. These modifications in look are the phases of the moon. Because the moon orbits Earth, it cycles by means of eight distinct phases. The 4 major phases of the moon happen a few week aside, with the complete moon its most dazzling stage.
In January 2022, the moon’s phases will happen on the next dates:
New Moon: Jan. 2
First Quarter: Jan. 9
Full Moon: Jan. 17
Final Quarter: Jan. 25
Lunar calendar for 2022
Listed below are the moon phases for 2021, based on NASA’s SKYCAL. Occasions and dates are in UTC time. When you want tools for viewing the moon, try our information to the perfect telescopes and the perfect telescopes for teenagers.
You can too try our information on methods to {photograph} the moon, in addition to methods to {photograph} a lunar eclipse for main moon occasions. There’s even a information on methods to {photograph} a photo voltaic eclipse.
When you’re in search of imaging gear, our greatest cameras for astrophotography and finest lenses for astrophotography guides will help put together you for the following lunar sight.
New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Final Quarter |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 2, 1:33 p.m. | Jan. 9, 1:11 p.m. | Jan. 17, 6:48 p.m. | Jan. 25. 8:41 a.m. |
Feb. 1, 12:46 a.m. | Feb. 8, 8:50 a.m. | Feb. 16, 11:57 a.m. | Feb. 23, 5:32 p.m. |
March 2, 12:35 p.m. | March 10, 5:45 a.m. | March 18, 3:17 a.m. | March 25, 1:37 a.m.. |
April 1, 2:24 a.m. | April 9, 2:48 a.m. | April 16, 2:55 p.m. | April 23, 7:56 a.m. |
April 30 4:28 p.m. | Could 8, 8:21 p.m. | Could 16, 12:14 a.m. | Could 22, 2:43 p.m. |
Could 30, 7:30 a.m. | June 7, 10:48 a.m. | June 14, 7:52 a.m. | June 20, 11:11 p.m. |
June 28, 10:52 p.m. | July 6, 10:14 p.m. | July 13 2:37 p.m. | July 20,10:18 a.m. |
July 28, 1:55 p.m. | Aug. 5, 7:06 a.m. | Aug. 11, 9:36 p.m. | Aug. 19, 12:36 a.m. |
Aug. 27, 4:17 a.m. | Sept. 3, 2:08 p.m. | Sept. 10, 5:59 a.m. | Sept. 17, 5:52 p.m. |
Sept. 25, 5:54 p.m. | Oct. 2, 8:14 p.m. | Oct. 9,.4:55 p.m. | Oct. 17, 1:15 p.m. |
Oct. 25, 6:49 a.m. | Nov. 1, 1:37 a.m. | Nov. 8, 6:02 a.m. | Nov. 16, 8:27 a.m. |
Nov. 23, 5:57 p.m. | Nov. 30, 9:36 a.m. | Dec. 7, 11:08 p.m. | Dec. 16, 3:56 a.m. |
Dec. 23, 5:17 a.m. | Dec. 29, 8:20 p.m. |
Phases of the moon
The moon, like Earth, is a sphere, and it’s all the time half-illuminated by the solar. Because the moon travels round Earth, we see kind of of the illuminated half. Moon phases describe how a lot of the moon’s disk is illuminated from our perspective.
New moon: The moon is between Earth and the solar, and the facet of the moon dealing with towards us receives no direct daylight; it’s lit solely by dim daylight mirrored from Earth.
Waxing crescent: Because the moon strikes round Earth, the facet we will see steadily turns into extra illuminated by direct daylight.
First quarter: The moon is 90 levels away from the solar within the sky and is half-illuminated from our perspective. We name it “first quarter” as a result of the moon has traveled a few quarter of the way in which round Earth because the new moon.
Waxing gibbous: The world of illumination continues to extend. Greater than half of the moon’s face seems to be getting daylight.
Full moon: The moon is 180 levels away from the solar and is as shut as it may be to being totally illuminated by the solar from our perspective. The solar, Earth and the moon are aligned, however as a result of the moon’s orbit shouldn’t be precisely in the identical aircraft as Earth’s orbit across the solar, they hardly ever kind an ideal line. Once they do, we’ve a lunar eclipse as Earth’s shadow crosses the moon’s face.
Waning gibbous: Greater than half of the moon’s face seems to be getting daylight, however the quantity is lowering.
Final quarter: The moon has moved one other quarter of the way in which round Earth, to the third quarter place. The solar’s mild is now shining on the opposite half of the seen face of the moon.
Waning crescent: Lower than half of the moon’s face seems to be getting daylight, and the quantity is lowering.
Lastly, the moon is again to its new moon beginning place. Now, the moon is between Earth and the solar. Often the moon passes above or beneath the solar from our vantage level, however often it passes proper in entrance of the solar, and we get a photo voltaic eclipse.
Associated: Infographic: How Moon Phases Work
Further assets
NASA’s SkyCal Occasions Calendar presents a complete calendar of moon phases, lunar and photo voltaic eclipses and extra for the complete calendar 12 months. You possibly can see extra in regards to the full moons of 2022, in House.com’s Full Moon Calendar. Our evening sky information has a listing of occasions for skywatching this month.
Bibliography
SkyCal – SkyEvents Calendar, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Heart
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html
What’s Up – January 2022, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/movies/whats-up-january-2022