Author: Robert Lunsford

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday September 17th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near 2300 Local Summer Time (LST). As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later in the morning, providing a longer window of dark skies with each passing night.

During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Saturday September 10th. At that time the moon will lie opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon will rise later in the evening, affording some dark sky meteor viewing between dusk and moon rise.

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday September 3rd. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 23:00 Local Summer Time (LST). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will begin to interfere upon the more active morning hours. Toward the end of the period, the nearly full moon will lie above the horizon most of the night.

During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Saturday August 27th. At that time the moon will lie near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will set long before the more active morning hours arrive.

During this period, the moon reaches wanes from half illuminated to nearly new. This means the moon will be limited to the morning sky, leaving the evening hours completely clear of moonlight. Toward the end of this period the moon will also be a non-factor in the morning sky as it approached its new phase.