![]() ![]() This denotes the cycle of alternating altitudes.įurther reading: Electromagnetic Acceleration - Lunar Phases Lunar Orientation The time between two full moons, or between successive occurrences of the same phase, is about 29.53 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes) on average. When the moon is above the altitude of the sun and opposite from it, the moon is fully lit and a Full Moon occurs. When the moon is below the sun's altitude and near it, the moon is dark and a New Moon occurs. ![]() The boundary between the illuminated and unilluminated area is called the terminator. When the observer looks up he will see a shadow cutting the moon in half. When the moon and sun are at the same altitude one half of the lunar surface is illuminated and pointing towards the sun, This is called the First Quarter Moon. The lunar phases vary cyclically according to the changing geometry of the Moon and Sun, which are constantly wobbling up and down and exchange altitudes as they rotate around the North Pole. The lunar phases, as photographed by Fred Espenak in 2012 ![]()
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