During
this month the wolves
once roamed the countryside,
thus suggesting the
name wolf moon. In cold
and temperate climates
of the Northern Hemisphere,
it was difficult to
find food during January,
thus the name hunger
moon.
February
Snow
Moon
In
certain parts of the
world, snow is usually
the deepest in this
month, thus the name
snow moon.
March
Sap
or Worm Moon
Because
sap rises in March,
this full moon is called
the sap moon. The ground
softens during this
month, and worms begin
to burrow out of the
ground, thus the name
worm moon.
April
Pink
Moon
Many
flowers turn pink and
bloom in April, thus
the name pink moon.
May
Flower
Moon
Because
many flowers bloom in
May, after the April
downpours, May's moon
is called the flower
moon.
June
Strawberry
or Rose Moon
Because
strawberries bloom in
June, this month's moon
is the strawberry moon.
Also, the French call
this moon la lune
rose, which translates
into English as "the
rose moon."
July
Buck
Moon
Male
deer, or bucks, grow their
first antlers during this
month, thus the name buck
moon.
August
Sturgeon
Moon
Because
it is sturgeon season
in certain parts of the
world in August, its moon
is called the sturgeon
moon
September
Harvest
or Corn Moon
Native
Americans began to harvest
their crops during this
month every year. (If
this full moon occurs
late in August it is called
the harvest moon.). If
the full moon occurs earlier
in September, it is called
the corn moon because
the corn crop is ready
for picking at that time.
October
Hunter's
Moon
The
hunting season begins
in October, thus the name
hunter's moon.
November
Beaver
Moon
Beaver
traps were once set in
this month to catch enough
beaver to make warm clothing
for the upcoming winter.
December
Cold
Moon
The
approach of cold weather
in the Northern Hemisphere
gives this month's full
moon its name.
More
Moon Facts
The
Moon moves about Earth at
an average distance of 384,403
km (238,857 mi), and at
an average speed of 3,700
km/h (2,300 mph). It completes
one revolution in an elliptical
orbit about Earth in 27
days 7 hours 43 minutes
11.5 seconds with reference
to the stars (see
Time). For the Moon to go
from one phase to the next
similar phase, or one lunar
month, requires 29 days
12 hours 44 minutes 2.8
seconds. The Moon rotates
once on its axis in about
the same period of time
that elapses for its sidereal
period of revolution, accounting
for the fact that virtually
the same portion of the
Moon is always turned toward
the Earth. Although the
Moon appears bright to the
eye, it reflects into space
only 7 percent of the light
that falls on it. The reflectivity,
or albedo, of 0.07 is similar
to that of coal dust.
The
Moon As Seen From Earth
At
any one time, an observer
can see only 50 percent
of the Moon's entire surface.
However, an additional 9
percent can be seen from
time to time around the
apparent edge because of
the relative motion called
libration. This is because
of the slightly different
angles of view from Earth,
due to different relative
positions of the Moon along
its inclined elliptical
orbit.
The Moon shows progressively
different phases as it moves
along its orbit around Earth.
Half the Moon is always
in sunlight, just as half
Earth has day while the
other half has night. The
phases of the Moon depend
on how much of the sunlit
half can be seen at any
one time. In the phase called
the new moon, the face is
completely in shadow. About
a week later, the Moon is
in first quarter, resembling
a luminous half-circle;
another week later, the
full moon shows its fully
lighted surface; a week
afterward, in its last quarter,
the Moon appears as a half-circle
again. The entire cycle
is repeated each lunar month.
The Moon is full when it
is farther away from the
Sun than Earth; it is new
when it is closer. When
it is more than half illuminated,
it is said to be in gibbous
phase. The Moon is said
to be waning when it progresses
from full to new, and to
be waxing as it proceeds
again to full. Temperatures
on its surface are extreme,
ranging from a maximum of
127¡C (261¡F)
at lunar noon to a minimum
of -173¡C (-279¡F)
just before lunar dawn.
The
Lunar Eclipse
In
astronomy, the obscuring
of one celestial body by
another, particularly that
of the sun or a planetary
satellite. Two kinds of
eclipses involve the earth:
those of the moon, or lunar
eclipses; and those of the
sun, or solar eclipses .
A lunar eclipse occurs when
the earth is between the
sun and the moon and its
shadow darkens the moon.
A solar eclipse occurs when
the moon is between the
sun and the earth and its
shadow moves across the
face of the earth. Transits
and occultations are similar
astronomical phenomena but
are not as spectacular as
eclipses because of the
small size of these bodies
as seen from earth (see
Transit).
The earth, lit by the sun,
casts a long, conical shadow
in space. At any point within
that cone the light of the
sun is wholly obscured.
Surrounding the shadow cone,
also called the umbra, is
an area of partial shadow
called the penumbra. The
approximate mean length
of the umbra is 1,379,200
km (857,000 mi); at a distance
of 384,600 km (239,000 mi),
the mean distance of the
moon from the earth, it
has a diameter of about
9170 km (about 5700 mi).
A total lunar eclipse occurs
when the moon passes completely
into the umbra. If it moves
directly through the center,
it is obscured for about
2 hours. If it does not
pass through the center,
the period of totality is
less and may last for only
an instant if the moon travels
through the very edge of
the umbra.
A partial lunar eclipse
occurs when only a part
of the moon enters the umbra
and is obscured. The extent
of a partial eclipse can
range from near totality,
when most of the moon is
obscured, to a slight or
minor eclipse, when only
a small portion of the earth's
shadow is seen on the passing
moon. Historically, the
view of the earth's circular
shadow advancing across
the face of the moon was
the first indication of
the shape of the earth.
Before the moon enters the
umbra in either total or
partial eclipse, it is within
the penumbra and the surface
becomes visibly darker.
The portion that enters
the umbra seems almost black,
but during a total eclipse,
the lunar disk is not completely
dark; it is faintly illuminated
with a red light refracted
by the earth's atmosphere,
which filters out the blue
rays. Occasionally a lunar
eclipse occurs when the
earth is covered with a
heavy layer of clouds that
prevent light refraction;
the surface of the moon
is invisible during totality.
Even
More Moon Magick
new
moon
The new moon lies between
the earth and the sun. Because
the sunlit side is away
from the earth, the new
moon is invisible to us.
The first whole day the
moon is visible in it's
waxing mode towards fullness.
A time of renewal and new
beginnings. Spells cast
during the new moon are
often intended to grow to
fruition by the full moon.
waxing moon
As moon moves along its
orbit, it appears as a crescent
on the right side. As the
visible part of the moon
grows, it is said to be
"waxing".This
occurs during the 14 day
period from New Moon to
Full Moon when the moon
is more visible in the sky
each night. During the Waxing
Moon, cast spells for growth,
initiation, and to draw
positive things into your
life. waxing gibbous
When more than half of the
sunlit side is visible,
the moon is "gibbous." full moon
The moon reaches the second
quarter of its orbit. The
entire daylight side is
visible and appears to us
as a circle. The Full Moon
is the time when waxing
lunar energy is at it's
zenith. Spells appropriate
for the Waxing Moon are
cast, so long as this is
done before the exact time
of the Full Moon. Any working
that needs extra power,
such as help in finding
love or healings for serious
conditions. Also, love,
knowledge, legal undertakings,
money and dreams.
waning gibbous
As the sunlit side of the
moon turns away from us,
the moon begins to "wane".
Waning Moon energy is used
to neutralize or banish
negativity, lessen or remove
obstacles or illness, and
in binding.
waning crescent
The visible portion of the
moon dwindles to a crescent
and we get ready to start
all over again. dark moon
The Dark, or Black, Moon
refers to the brief time
when the Moon is totally
invisible in the night sky.
Some say the Dark Moon is
the best time for banishing
spells; others avoid magick
altogether.
World-Wide
Moon-Myths
Whether
you're a hunter, fisherman,
trapper, farmer, gardener,
or just a nature lover,
you can be affected by the
moon. And the affect can
be a bit different depending
on if the moon is new, crescent,
harvest, hunter's, waning,
waxing, or a sparkling bright
full moon.
Fishermen
sometimes cast their lines
according to the phases
of the moon; hunters find
certain moon times good,
others bad; and it's always
more fun to camp out under
a clear, full moon.
Although
the moon plays a big part
of outdoor life, few know
just how much it affects
our earth and our outdoor
activities. Throughout history
the moon has inspired man's
wonder and challenged his
curiosity. Why else would
we have sent a man to walk
on its surface.
Perhaps
more than anything else,
the moon has come into play
with farmers and gardeners
when it is time to plant,
cultivate, and harvest plants
and crops. Even today many
people believe growth patterns
are better when planting
tasks are performed in the
moon's proper position --
while others follow planting
times according to The Farmer's
Almanac, which also details
phases of the moon.
Early
Native Americans believed
the position of the moon
during the first half of
February indicated whether
the growing season would
be wet or dry. If the horns
of the quarter moon pointed
downward, the moon was Òemptying
its water,Ó and it
would be a wet spring and
summer. If the horns pointed
upward, it indicated just
the opposite, and there
would be little rain.
Still
today many farmers believe
the moon controls crop growth.
If you want a good above-ground
harvest, plant during a
full moon. On the other
hand, root crops are to
be planted during the dark
of the moon.
Many
farmers maintain that early
July is the best time to
plant the last crop of corn,
because corn planted then
will produce ears that reach
upward from the stalk in
an attempt to reach the
full moon. Whereas, if planted
during the last half of
the month (when the moon
is larger), the ears will
snug closer to the stalk
because they fear late July's
larger moon.
Some
old-time gardeners contend
that root vegetables taste
better if they are harvested
in the afternoon. Silly?
Well, modern research has
shown that the vital life
forces of all plants return
to the roots during the
course of the late afternoon
and evening. At daybreak
they rise up again to the
portion of the plant that
is above ground. So, it
would seem that picking
is best in the afternoon
when the life forces are
back in the root system.
The
moon is also a predictor
for cutting wood. During
a full moon for example,
it has been considered a
bad time to cut wood. Instead,
to get the more durable
wood from deciduous trees
(leaf shedding), they should
be cut in the winter --
preferably in December --
under the third quarter
of the moon.
Throughout
history the moon figured
prominently in folktales,
mythology, and religious
rituals. Many early cultures
chose to deify the bright
light in the night sky.
The early Greeks and Romans
worshiped Diana or Artemis
as the swift and beautiful
Goddess of the Moon and
the Hunt.
For
the Chinese a woman's moon
face predicated her desirability,
while her feet were bound
to shape them into moon
crescents.
Later
the word lunatic came to
describe someone who was
moon mad as a result of
sleeping under the moonlight,
or being overexposed to
it. Nefarious deeds took
place during the dark moon,
yet it seems that was the
best time to capture a lucky
rabbit's foot -- even better
if you were cross-eyed,
caught the critter in a
graveyard, and whacked off
the left hind foot.
If
you chose to look at the
moon over your shoulder,
or peer up at its halo,
you were in for a spat of
ill fortune, as you would
be if you pointed up at
a new moon.
Full
moon followers have believed
that taking medicines and
tonics during this phase
was most effective, while
others have urged wishing
upon seeing a new moon to
bring good fortune.
Books
have been written about
the moon's affects on man.
Even today psychiatrists
and law enforcement officials
say that crime increases
and the mentally ill become
more agitated on nights
of the full moon.
So,
whatever you do, there is
probably some myth, lore,
or legend that brings into
play the causes and effects
of the man in the moon.
The
moon is the earth's only
satellite companion in their
annual circuit around the
sun. The moon revolves around
the earth in an elliptical
orbit, making the circuit
in 27 days, seven hours,
43 minutes, 11.5 seconds
(for those who want to be
precise). This is the sidereal
month -- the period of revolution
around the earth in relation
to the stars.
Now
to be really confused, if
you consider the synodic
month -- the period of revolution
around the earth in relation
to the sun -- then it takes
29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes.
During
this regular cycle there
are four basic phases of
the moon (the apparent changes),
with any number of variations.
The phases are caused by
the angles at which the
moon's lighted surface is
seen from the earth, and
it gives us a new moon,
full moon, and different
crescent moons.
A
new moon is when it is on
line between the sun and
the earth, presenting us
its dark side and therefore
hardly visible. It then
passes through its waxing
(getting bigger) crescent
phase into the first quarter,
when it is a right-hand
moon. It continues on through
its waxing gibbous phase,
reaching full moon when
it is on the opposite side
of the earth from the sun,
and fully illuminated. The
moon marches on through
its waning (getting smaller)
gibbous into its last quarter
-- when it is a left-handed
moon -- and then continues
through the waning crescent
phase until it is again
a new moon.
Itself
a dark globe, the varying
amounts of light that illuminate
the moon's surface as its
revolutions bring it into
different positions with
relation to the sun and
earth give us changing perceptions.
The
phases between the new moon
and the first and last quarters
are crescent, and the phases
between the full moon and
the first and last quarters
are gibbous. The whole cycle
takes place every 28 and
a fraction days (the average
each month) with all kinds
of things happening along
the way.
A
full moon is looked upon
as a climactic period of
the month, and is believed
to have power over the human
body and mind, over the
fertility of animals and
crops, and, above all, over
weather conditions and the
tides.
Tide
is the alternate rise and
fall of the ocean's surface.
Twice a day it rises (flows)
and falls (ebbs), caused
by the gravitational pull
of the moon and the sun
(but the sun having only
a third of the moon's effect).
When
the line of pull of the
two is the same (at the
time of the new moon and
the full moon), the tide
rises highest (strongest)
and is called a spring tide.
The greatest tide in the
world is at the Bay of Fundy
in Nova Scotia -- 53 feet.
When the two pull in different
directions (as in the first
and third quarters), the
crest of the tide is lowest
(weakest), and is known
as a neap tide.
At
a given time there are two
high tides on the earth,
on on the side facing the
moon, and the other on the
opposite side, the latter
being caused by the greater
pull of the moon upon the
earth itself than upon the
oceans which are still farther
away from the moon.
With
the lunar day being about
24 hours and 50 minutes,
the interval between high
tides is about 12 hours
and 25 minutes. High tide
does not always occur on
a given shore when the moon
is directly overhead because
there is a lag caused by
a variety of irregularities
and other factors. Tides
rise higher where the water
enters a narrow estuary,
or when the water volume
is added to by other natural
occurrences (winds, etc.)
The ebb and flow of the
tide causes an almost continual
motion near shores, termed
the tidal current or tidal
stream.
The
moon also is credited (or
blamed) for storms, with
the heaviest storms in the
calendar month in the northern
hemisphere being related
to lunar phases. Such storms
are more likely to occur
from one to three days after
a new moon, and from three
to five days after a full
moon. The beginning of hurricanes
in the Caribbean have been
similarly related to lunar
positions.
The
mean (average) distance
between the center of the
earth and that of the moon
is calculated at 238,857
miles -- once a staggering
number, but no longer now
that man has walked on the
moon's surface. The moon's
diameter is 2,160 miles,
somewhat more than one-fourth
that of the earth. The moon's
gravity is one-sixth that
of the earth, thus making
a 180 pound man weigh only
30 pounds when on the surface
of the moon.
In
a month's time about 59
percent of the moon's surface
comes into view, with temperatures
ranging from +243 degrees
F in full sunlight at noon,
to -279 degrees F with no
sunlight at midnight (although
calculations vary). The
moon shines only by reflected
light from the sun, or from
earthshine -- when the unlit
portion of the moon facing
the earth appears to glow.
An
eclipse of the moon occurs
when the earth obscures
the sun's rays from it,
passing into such a position
that the earth's shadow
lies upon it, shutting off
all light from the sun.
A solar eclipse occurs when
the new moon takes a position
between the sun and the
earth, and the moon's shadow
lies on some part of the
earth's surface, obscuring
the sun's light in that
region.
So
it is any wonder man has
been fascinated with the
moon. It is mysterious;
seemingly with many different
powers; and controls not
only tides, crop growth,
and behavioral cycles, but
is that thing in outer space
we have romanticized in
both poetry and song.
