MOON
FEBRUARY NEW MOON SPOTTING
It’s a challenge every month to spot the New Moon as early as possible. I use the term New Moon in its traditional sense of one’s first sighting of the Moon after its monthly solar conjunction (Dark Moon). The Dark Moon (which some call New Moon) will be in geocentric longitudinal conjunction with the Sun on 2012 FEB 21 at 22:35 UT (16:35 CST).
We are in the portion of the year during which the sighting of a fairly young
Moon is relatively easy for observers north of the tropics. The Moon’s northern ecliptical
latitude is also helpful. That’s a function of the 18.6-
On February 22 Europeans have a shot at spotting the Moon less than a day old,
while North Americans may have an easier time sighting it when slightly more than
a day old. On that date it will appear as an unusual for outside the tropics “Lunar
Boat”, i.e. U-
Also above is a link to a panorama including each Diana’s Bow in 2012. That’s a waxing crescent Moon about 10% illuminated and aged about three days. The name is a reference to the archery equipment of the ancient Roman goddess of the Moon and hunting. The graphic nicely illustrates how the season of the year affects the viewing of a waxing crescent Moon.
© Curt Renz
Daily lunar phases, eclipses, planetary events and meteor showers
A Great Computer Desktop Background Wallpaper!