Make 2018 the Year of the Moon
Make 2018 the Year of the Moon
The first month of 2018 is ending with one of the biggest lunar events of the decade. It’s as if mother moon is declaring that 2018 will be her year—so why not play along? Here’s a quick crash course on all things lunar, including the truth about a few moon mysteries and the real-life super powers of the moon.
The Moon: How Was It Created?
Though researchers aren’t exactly sure how the moon got to be where it is today, the leading theory is pretty epic. It states that the moon became the moon when a piece of space debris crashed into the primitive earth billions of years ago and caused a chunk of the earth to come flying off. Earth’s gravitational pull caused the debris to remain close to the planet, where it underwent several more meteor impacts over the course of several billion years, shaping it into the moon as we know it.
The Lunar Cycle
Most of us know that the moon goes through different phases, or “shapes,” but do you know how those phases happen? As the moon travels on its circular orbit around Earth, light from the sun hits the face of the moon at different angles, illuminating different parts of it. The sunlight is then reflected off the surface of the moon towards Earth as what we call “moonlight.” The orbit takes precisely 27.3217 days to complete, giving us about a month’s worth of different moon phases before the cycle repeats again. Read on to learn about the different phases of the moon and what they mean.
New Moon
During this lunar phase, the moon appears to disappear from the sky entirely. In actuality, the sunlight is just hitting the moon from the backside, illuminating the part of the moon that we can’t see from Earth. Astrologically speaking, the new moon is a great time for new beginnings and self-improvement.
Waxing Crescent
In the waxing phases, the moon is working away from the new moon and towards the full moon. The waxing crescent is the first phase after the new moon, and is known for its iconic shape and serene beauty. According to astrological experts, the waxing crescent is one of the most positive and encouraging phases of the moon, as it symbolizes taking the first steps towards fulfillment.
First Quarter
The first quarter is the halfway mark between a new moon and a full moon, and accordingly, the moon appears to be sliced in half during this time! This is a great moon phase for personal growth: just as the moon is making strides towards fullness, so should you. Tensions can build during the first quarter, encouraging you to make the most of your skills and talents by turning potential into action.
Waxing Gibbous
The waxing gibbous phase is in between the first quarter moon and the full moon, when the moon is almost full, but not quite. Sometimes we can even be tricked into thinking that a waxing gibbous is a full moon! The waxing gibbous moon is a time of intense focus—sometimes too intense—with both humans and the moon keeping their eye on the prize: the approaching full moon. This is a time to remain diligent and keep your spirits high so that you don’t tire out or give up before the finish line.
Full Moon
Ah, the full moon—the name says it all. You (and the moon) have waited a long time for this moment! It’s no coincidence that the word “lunatic” is derived from “Luna,” the ancient Roman moon goddess. Societies throughout time have asserted the raw power of the full moon, including its ability to spark romantic relationships, fertility, and economic prosperity.
Waning Gibbous
The waning gibbous is the moon’s after party, the come down from the high of the full moon. This is also the “clean-up” phase, the time to pick up the mess from your celebrations and ready yourself for the clean, new beginning of the upcoming new moon.
Third Quarter
The third quarter moon is the reverse of the first quarter moon, and is the halfway mark between the full moon and the new moon. The third quarter is about working with what you have, honing your skills, and caring for your possessions. If needed, the “clean-up” from waning gibbous can stretch into the third quarter as you look towards the new moon.
Waning Crescent
The waning crescent, also called “old moon” or “dark moon” is the last phase before the new moon. At some points in waning crescent, the moon is a mere sliver, a representation of the fragility you may feel during this time. The waning crescent is the perfect time to practice self-care by letting go of what you do not need so that you can rebuild yourself following the new moon.
The Truth Behind the Man in the Moon
Have you seen the man in the moon? If so, you’re not alone—the man in the moon is one of the most common lunar projections in the western hemisphere. Of course, the features of the man in the moon are not actually real, but rather a tricky illusion. The man’s eyes, nose, and mouth are massive “dark spots” on the moon’s surface caused by ancient lava eruptions. We see them as features because our brains are trained to translate what we see into familiar formats—like human faces.
Mother Moon, Father Sun
Femininity has been attributed to the moon, and masculinity to the sun, for thousands of years across countless cultures. One of the most curious links between women and the moon is the menstrual cycle—sometimes referred to as the moon cycle—viewed as a shared experience between the two. One study found that women are likely to menstruate in sync with the moon cycles, ovulating on the full moon and menstruating on the new moon. That’s all the more reason to howl to the moon, ladies!
The Moon Around the Globe
Every culture has its own beliefs about the moon. One of the most peculiar differences between those beliefs is what is seen on the moon’s surface. While much of the United States sees the man on the moon, sky gazers in Japan see a rabbit using a mortar and pestle, and those in India see a pair of hands. The Maori of New Zealand see a woman in the moon, a goddess said to have been banished to the moon after being disobedient.
Lunar Events to Know: Super Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Blue Moon
A super moon is a full moon that occurs during the point in the moon’s orbit that brings it closest to the earth, making it appear larger and brighter. A blue moon is the second full moon in a single calendar month. A lunar eclipse is a partial eclipse, or obstruction, of the moon that occurs when the moon crosses into Earth’s shadow. This is also called a “blood moon” due to the reddish hue that the moon takes on during an eclipse.... Want to see all three at once? Sky gaze in the early morning of January 31st for the Super Blue Blood Moon of 2018.
Life on the Moon, Life without the Moon
Did you know that there might have been life on the moon? Recent satellite explorations of Earth’s moon have revealed that there is an abundance of water inside the moon, which may have at one point supported life forms. Even if the moon did not sustain life on its own, it certainly played a huge role in supporting life on Earth. The moon’s gravitational pull controls the tidal cycle of Earth’s oceans. Though the tides may seem minor today, life on Earth is thought to have originated in the ocean, which means that this may not have been possible without the moon’s gravitational pull creating tides.
