If so, how?
2007-06-23 10:51:17 · 6 answers · asked by lovesassflake 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It's an ancient chinese secret. Only they can tell if it wax on or wan off!
Nightrider
2007-06-23 11:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it certainly is. However, the convex/concave answer given above is incorrect. That refers to the difference between crescent and gibbous phases, but there are waxing and waning crescents and waxing and waning gibbous pahses.
Starting from a new Moon, when none of the Moon is visible, the limb nearest the Sea Of Tranquility is illuminated first. Over the next two weeks the terminator moves across the Sea Of Tranquility, through the first quarter phase, and then across Oceanus Procellarum and the associated seas on that side of the Moon. Simplifying that for a northern hemisphere observer, the right side of the Moon is lit up during the waxing phases.
After full the moon wanes, and from here until new Moon the left hand limb of the Moon is fully illuminated.
Other ways to remember are that the waxing Moon makes a D shape, while the waning Moon makes a C shape. Also, the times at which the moon is visible are useful. During waxing pahses the Moon is visible in the sky during the day before sunset, and when waning does not rise until after sunset and is visible in the morning daylight sky. During the waxing phase it is behind the sun in its movement across the sky, during the waning phase it is ahead of the Sun in its motion across the sky.
All sorts of ways to identify a waxing or waning Moon just by looking at it.
2007-06-23 11:09:27 · answer #2 · answered by Jason T 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The first part of the moon to be lit (from our perspective) after a new moon is the side closest to the sun (from our perspective the right-hand side). That side gets larger (more lit) as the month goes on until full moon. Then the right side is more and more unlit (again from our perspective until new moon again).
So if the right side of the moon is lit, then the moon is growing (waxing) between new moon towards full.
And if the left side of the moon is lit, then the moon is waning from full moon towards new.
2007-06-23 14:19:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A waxing moon gets "larger", while a waning moon gets "smaller". You can tell which is which by which side of the moon is fully illuminated. If the right (west) side is smoothly round the moon is waxing. If the left (east) side is fully lit, it is waning.
Remember that the moon travels from west to east in its monthly cycle. As it "leaves" the sun (to the west) it is waxing. As it approaches the sun (to the east) it is waning.
Crescent and gibbous phases, by themselves, mean nothing unless you pay attention to which side is lit.
Addendum: Is it just me, or is there an echo around here?
2007-06-23 11:07:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
Yes.
2007-06-24 06:13:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, if it's left side is bright and getting larger/brighter from left to right then that means that it's waxing, if it's dark on it's left side and is getting smaller/darker from left to right then it's waning.
2007-06-23 10:55:56 · answer #6 · answered by cmdr_aquilla 1 · 1⤊ 8⤋