Thread: This Years Lunar Phase

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As anybody who's into prop building will tell you attention to detail is everything. One "Detail" we can't control is the Phase of the Moon on Hallowe'en Night. This year we get a Waxing Gibbous Moon, slightly larger than a Half-Moon. The good news is ---it will be at maximum altitude at about 8:30 PM, right as TOT is reaching its peak.

Wolfman,

Wouldn't it be nice if we always had a full moon on Halloween?!?

Well I have a question for you.......
I was checking the moon phase for my neck of the woods this year. It showed a half moon and said it was a three quarter moon. Confused me, can you explain that to me in simple terms?
Thanks!
Lil

P.S. Last year for our trail the moon was big and bright (around the 23rd I think) we had no clouds and a still night. Weather was mild here in Minnesota. We got lucky!

lol thats great, peak TOT at 830? darnit, that when I have to go in for work :/ I miss being a small child with no worries

http://imagiware.com/astro/moon.cgi

This is cool...You can see what the moon will look like this Halloween.

The most recent full moon we had on Halloween was on October, 31, 2001.

I honestly don't care what shape the moon is that night, as long as I can see it, because that means no clouds, which means no rain.

That is cool, there is some moon out for our trail on the 28th, but I am with you, just no clouds cause that means NO RAIN!!!

Lil

Originally Posted by Lilly

Well I have a question for you.......
I was checking the moon phase for my neck of the woods this year. It showed a half moon and said it was a three quarter moon. Confused me, can you explain that to me in simple terms?
Thanks!Lil

Hmmm, I think it shows a half moon symbol because on the 29th we reach the "first quarter" moon phase. There are 8 of them: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent. The moon is only half illuminated on the "first quarter" and "last quarter" moon phases. I think calendars usually note: new moon, first quarter, last quarter and full moon.

You start with a new moon (complete shadow). Then as the moon is illuminated you eventually get a half lit moon (first quarter phase) then a full moon. The time between half lit and full moon is called waxing gibbous. So yes, it will look 3/4 full on 10/31. Waxing means to gradually get bigger. After the moon is full then it starts to wane or get smaller. So you then get a waning gibbous moon then eventually half (last quarter phase), etc.

The phases correspond with the moon's orbit around the earth if you divide it into 8 segments. At full moon it is half way around in its orbit.

Hope that helps and doesn't confuse you.
My other hobby is astronomy. After 3 years, I still consider myself to be a newbie.
Here is another good link.

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent...moonphase.html

Here is another link that shows photos of what the moon looks like each day on a calendar.
http://www.moon-phases.net/calendar/index.php

DayTek and Haunted Bayou,
Thanks for the links. How great is this - Halloween forum and an education class. Thank you for all the information.
Here's howling to all of you on the full moon.

lilly where in mn are you? just north of the cities here; i do a haunted driveway/garage, 2nd annual (hopefully) i am looking forward to it. Lots left to do though!

"Things" seem to happen in my house on either side of the full moon, like two nights ahead or after it.
The actual full moon is usually quiet here.
Then October 31st is almost always a nutty night with "activity", it's a haunted house.
hauntedravensgrin.com