Moon Phases and Weather essays

Moon Phases and Weather essays From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon's appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part. The phases of the moon are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, Waxing Moon (1st Quarter), Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent (Last Quarter). These moon phases often affect the weather. During these phases, there are certain weather conditions that are likely to occur. The best chance for a fine day is before any moon phase day, at the New Moon, and a few days before the Full Moon. The chance of rain can be viewed as the relative weather instability. Rain occurs most frequently in the week between the New Moon and 1st Quarter and the week between Full Moon and Last Quarter. This is partly due to the moon phases effects on tides. Although the chance of rain just before the Full Moon is very low, the days could be overcast and cooler. The days before the 1st Quarter and the Last Quarter should be warmer than the days before the New Moon or Full Moon. ...