I took an Astronomy class a few years back at Fullerton, and it was really fun! One of the remarkable things I learned was about the moon and it's phases vs. position in the sky (and time). So, I'll try and make sense of what I mean.
When the moon is full, it will be at it's apex at midnight. That means that it will rise at about 6pm, and set at about 6am. On nights where there is a full moon, it stays bright ALL night long!
When the moon is new, it will be at it's apex at noon! That means that it will rise at about 6am and will set at about 6pm. Dark moonless nights are that way not just because it is a New Moon.. it's because the moon really isn't up!
All the other phases of the moon fall between those two absolutes. So you can tell when the moon is waxing or waning by where it is in the sky at a particular time! I find this to be really fun!
So if you see a half-moon in the evening, you can say that it is waxing!
DOC is a mnemonic device that is useful for telling whether the moon is waxing or waning (getting to be full, or going 'new') If the light is on the right side of the moon (when looking south), then it is waxing, if it is on the left, the moon is waning. (this is reversed for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, you would look north and think "COD").
Here are a couple of links (the picture is from wikipedia) that are clearer and better formed than my rough explanation above. Wikipedia on Lunar Phase. And a Lunar Calander (gives moon rise, set, and conditions)
Have fun moon watchers, and I hope you appreciate the moon and it's relation to time and fullness much better!
1 comment:
DOC? What's it stand for?
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