Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, December 3 (Reporter Zheng Shengzhu) At 13:49 on December 5, the smallest quarter moon of this year will be ushered in. At that time, the Moon will be located near the apogee of orbit, about 40 miles from the Earth40,000 km. Interestingly, just about half a month ago, there was the biggest first quarter moon of the year.
What is the Last Quarter Moon?When the sun, the moon and the earth are connected at right angles, and the moon is in the west of the sun, the eastern hemisphere of the moon is illuminated, and this moon phase appears in the second half of the lunar month, called the second quarter of the lunar month.
Many people think that the first quarter moon and the second quarter moon are "stupid and unclear", but in fact, the public can distinguish between them by the mantra "up and down and east and east". Wang Kechao said that the second quarter moon appears in the second half of the lunar month, rising around midnight and setting around noon. In the second half of the night, it hangs in the eastern sky, with the moon facing east. The first quarter moon appears in the first half of the lunar month, rising around noon and setting around midnight. In the first half of the night, it hangs in the western sky, with the moon facing west. In general, the first quarter moon is more suitable for viewing.
The first and second quarters of 2023 A.D. occur 12 times each. The Moon passes apogee on December 5, and the last quarter moon on that day is the farthest from Earth this year. Why is the last quarter moon the "smallest of the year"?Wang Kechao said that when the moon fell on December 5, the moon happened to orbit near the apogee, and the apparent diameter of the second quarter moon at this time was small, and it looked smaller than usual.
And on November 20, half of the month before the lowest last quarter moon of the year, there was the largest first quarter moon of the year. Wang Kechao explained that it takes about 14 days on average for the Moon to travel from perigee to apogee, and the average interval between the occurrence of the first and second quarters is about 15 days, and the interval between the two cycles is relatively close. As a result, the highest first quarter of the year and the lowest last quarter of the year usually occur in the same or adjacent lunar months. (ENDS).