Moon Phases Flashcards
What are the four moon phases?
New moon
First quarter
Full moon
Third/Last quarter
The cycle repeats
How long is a full cycle of the moon?
The moon takes about 29.5 days (approximately one month) to complete one cycle of phases (from new Moon to new Moon).
How long does the moon stay in each zodiac sign?
2.5 days. It takes one month for the moon to complete the zodiac cycle.
What is a new moon?
When the Moon is conjunct with the Sun and appears completely dark from earth. It is the beginning of the monthly lunar cycle.
Why does the moon change shape?
Our Moon’s shape doesn’t really change — it only appears that way. The “amount” of Moon that we see depends on what phase the moon is in as it rotates. As our Moon orbits around Earth, the side facing the Sun is always illuminated, just like Earth’s daylight side is illuminated by the Sun.
What is a full moon?
A full moon occurs halfway through the moon cycle, approximately two weeks after the new moon. During a full moon, the earth is “between” the moon and the sun and the moon appears fully illuminated.
What is the first quarter of the moon cycle?
The first quarter of the moon cycle occurs approximately one week after the new moon. The moon is halfway illuminated.
The moon is waxing, gaining light from its right to its left side. The right side appears illuminated.
What is the third/last quarter of the moon cycle?
The last quarter of the moon cycle occurs approximately one week after the full moon. The moon is halfway illuminated.
As it passes the full moon stage, the moon is waning, losing light from its right to its left side. The left side appears illuminated.
When does a conjunction of the moon and sun occur in a birth chart?
During a new moon.
When does an opposition of the moon and sun occur in a birth chart?
During a full moon.
When does the sun square the moon?
During the first and third quarters of the moon cycle.
What does it mean when the moon is waxing?
From the New Moon to the Full Moon it’s a waxing, or growing, phase. It is gaining light from its right to its left side. The right side appears illuminated.
*During a new moon and full moon, it is neither waxing nor waning.
What does it mean when the moon is waning?
From the Full Moon to the next New Moon it’s a waning, or shrinking, phase. It is losing light from its right to its left side. The left side appears illuminated.
*During a new moon and full moon, it is neither waxing nor waning.
What aspects in a birth chart can be waxing or waning?
Three out of five major aspects — square, sextile, and trine — can be either waxing or waning.
What is a waxing gibbous moon?
A waxing gibbous moon occurs between the first quarter and a full moon when the sunlit portion is increasing and the right side is more than half illuminated.
