lunar

List of dates of main Moon phases plus Maps of Libration areas for 2008 click here

Get to know the times of the new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter etc. then you know what to expect to see. Moontool is a neat free program for telling the phase.

Many websites publish full information, I try to keep the details for the next few lunations on my original Backyard Moon click here and have a page of the different Phases here.

It's no use knowing the phase of the moon if you don't know when to see it or where in the sky it will be.

Look at a monthly Sky Map from a magazine like 'Sky at Night' or via software like Cartes du Ciel (free) or SkyMap - get to know when the moon rises, whether it will be high or low and whether it will be visible from your viewing point.

This graphic will give you a rough idea of what to expect (did it with sine waves)

moonpos.jpg (49538 bytes)

Example for June 2007- sun rises before 4 am, sets around 8 pm

Date	Phase	Highest Altitude in south	Time due south - roughly
June 1st	Full rises ~21:53 sets ~03:12	8 - low!!	00:00 - moons from Day 14 to Day 20 will gradually get higher but rise later and later
June 8th	21 day rises ~00:36 sets ~ 11:51	29 - middle height but low at reasonable viewing times ;-)	06:00 - moons from Day 21 to New will be even higher - but even later rising!
June 15th	New rises ~03:04 sets ~21.57	64 - high near summer sun	12:00 - moons from Day 1 to 6 will be good heights but sky likely to be bright!
June 22nd	7 day rises ~12:26 sets ~ 00:00	32 - middle height	18:00 - moons from Day 7 to Day 13 will get lower but in darker skies as June progresses.
June 30th	Full rises ~21:27 sets ~02:43	7 - still grovelling about low	00:00 would need clear view to south

In general, full moons will be low in summer, high in winter. Summer months are not the best for moon watching for those with limited views ;-(((

Low moons rise more SE-ish and set SW-ish. High moons rise more NE-ish and set NW-ish

You've found the Moon - now what is there to see? It makes it much more interesting to be able to put a name to the craters, seas and mountains you see.

I started with a book on lunar observing (Moon Observers Guide by Peter Grego) - shows what to expect to see each day at the terminator, where the shadow ends, and helps you to find the interesting spots. He also has maps.

For those of you with space on your computer a must-have is the wonderful Virtual Moon Atlas (free). Other books and software links are given on my original Backyard Moon.

For an atlas of the Moon in book form then try Antonin Rukl's 'Atlas of the Moon'

New site - see Paul Sutherland's Top 50 Moon features

When you've got to know many of the places on the moon - you'll want to know about the bits that only appear now and again - when the moon wobbles and shows areas previously out of sight..

Articles in magazine sometimes mention the libration (wobble); software like Virtual Moon Atlas (see above) show them; or you can get a free program from the British Astronomy Association to show the wobbly bits for a particular month.

Want to see a video of the Moon's wobbles from NASA - click here

Getting deeper? You know when to expect the moon, what phase it will be and know most of the main bits - what next? Try Dr Charles Wood's challenge - the Lunar 100.

He lists 100 different things to find and observe on the Moon and tells you their significance. An excellent project set by a knowledgeable Moon man. See details at the 'Sky and Telescope' site.

Photos of some of the Lunar 100 on LPOD

For those of you without a telescope, there are sometimes lists or references in books, magazines or on websites. For example in Peter Grego's Book 'The Moon - and how to observe it' , Chapter 6 is Lunar Showcase - a binocular tour of the Moon.

Don't look at me - I can't draw (see Sketches ho-ho) but I can see that it really makes you observe and not just glance at the Moon.

There are lots of great Lunar drawings around - if you want to have a try there's advice on the web at BAA and SPA as well as many others. 'Sky at Night' magazine had some sketching articles in 2006

Again - I'm no photographer. I have a digital camera which I point down the eyepiece, zoom in to get rid of the dark bit round the edge - and click. Sometimes they're good, often they're rubbish. But it adds a new dimension to Moon Watching and gives you something to look at later.

If you are a member of a group you can share your better ones with others e.g. SPA's Lunar Observing Section or others - see my page on links on Original Backyard Moon

If you start to feel the need for a deeper understanding of what you're looking at on the moon; how did the craters appear and when - then delve into the history and geology a bit more. A brilliant book for this is 'Modern Moon' by Dr Charles Wood - and his articles in Sky and Telescope are similar.

To get a free (but heavy!) book on the geology try Geologic History of the Moon by Don Wilhelms again, see links on Original Backyard Moon

Please let me know if any links don't work or I've mixed the facts and figures up ;-)

Moon Watching

You're looking for the moon; you've cleaned your specs;

you have your binoculars or telescope - now what do you do?

Moon Watching You're looking for the moon; you've cleaned your specs;

you have your binoculars or telescope - now what do you do?

Moon Watching

You're looking for the moon; you've cleaned your specs;