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Saturday 14 July 2012

Knowing Moon phases Astronomy essay



Knowledge of the Moon phases, is fundamental for observing it, and for understanding the different light stages of it, because the observer must know when he can see some specific lunar features. It is important to understand its orbital motion around Earth.
The Moon phases, are different forms in which the Moon is seen by an observer on Earth. The phases are given by the position of the Moon relative to the Earth and the Sun. This varies due to movement of the Moon's revolution around the Earth.

The first phase is New Moon when the Moon is not seen on Earth because the Moon is between Sun and Earth. Moonlight will be increasing, and will thus reach Waxing Crescent, until the First Quarter when the Moon is half lit. It will continue to grow in light until the Full Moon, wich is followed the Third Quarter, or Last Quarter (as seen in First Quarter moonlight if you look upsidedown, ie, a crescent, but the other half is lit), and then the Moon will complete its phase, before arriving back in New Moon .
Repetition period of Moon phases, is called Synodic Moon and lasts about 29.5 days.

Even by using a pair of binoculars or a low power telescope, you can identify the basins of molten lava on the Moon, as Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare SerenitatisMare Imbrium, or Oceanus Procellarum. These are darker in comparison to the high cratered regions, which are bright, white in color. Basins of the Moon can be seen with the naked eye. Depends on how good eyes you have.



Video: Victor Lupu
Optics: CelestronC8 "-Newtonian telescope, plossl20mm, 2x Barlow
Mount: CG5 (EQ5)
Magnification: 100x
Device: Sony CX-130
Video mode: Full HD progressive 1920x1080
Filter: no
Date: 27/02/2012
Location: Baia Mare, Romania
Processing and editing: Sony Vegas 10

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