

The line–or curve–dividing the illuminated and dark parts of the Moon is called the terminator. Is the Moon upside-down in the other hemisphere? Exactly which part of the Moon is lit up-the top, bottom, or the side-also depends on how high the Moon is in the sky. The orientation of the Waxing Crescent Moon depends on the time, the date, your location, and the Moon's position in the sky. The same percentage of the Moon will be lit up no matter where on Earth you are. The Moon phases are the same all over the world, both in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. ©/ChrisVanLennepPhoto Looks Different Around the Globe The Waxing Crescent Moon's orientation depends on the time, date, location, and Moon's position in the sky. When seen in the mornings, as the morning star, it is close to the Waning Moon.Īll the planets, including Earth, more or less orbit around the Sun on the same imaginary plane, known as the ecliptic, so they sometimes meet in the sky. When it is seen in the evenings, as the evening star, it is close to the Waxing Moon.

Venus, the third brightest object in the night sky, after the Sun and the Moon, can often be found next to the Crescent Moon. This phenomenon is called earthshine or the Da Vinci glow, and it is most noticeable in April and May. The reason is that Earth reflects sunlight as a faint glow onto the Moon. Just how much of that light we can see from Earth varies every day, and we refer to this as a Moon phase.Īlthough only a small part of the Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun at the start of the Waxing Crescent Moon phase, the rest of the Moon is sometimes also faintly visible. The Moon's surface reflects the Sun’s rays, and half of it is always illuminated by sunlight. ©/Igor Sokalski Earthshine Is Reflected Sunlight This traditional definition of the New Moon is still in use in some cultures, defining the month's beginning in the Islamic calendar.Įarthshine illuminating the rest of the Waxing Crescent Moon's surface. Traditionally, the thinnest sliver of the Waxing Crescent Moon is considered the New Moon. Waxing means that it is growing, while crescent refers to the curved sickle shape. During this phase, the lit-up part of the Moon increases from 0.1% to 49.9%. The Waxing Crescent Moon starts as the Moon becomes visible again after the New Moon conjunction, when the Sun and Earth are on opposite sides of the Moon, making it impossible to see the Moon from Earth. It gets more visible around sunset but typically sets before midnight.

With some variations, the Waxing Crescent Moon rises in the daytime before noon and becomes visible in the day sky. Times and dates are based on the local time in Odesa. Times for the Waxing Crescent Moon vary by time zone. The Waxing Crescent Moon has a sickle shape. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).
