During which weeks in the moon’s cycle does the moon appear to be getting smaller
To determine the weeks in the moon's cycle when it appears to be getting smaller, you need to understand the concept of moon phases. The moon phases refer to the different shapes the moon appears to take on from the perspective of an observer on Earth.
The moon cycle, also known as the lunar cycle, repeats itself approximately every 29.5 days. During this cycle, the moon goes through eight distinct phases:
1. New Moon: At this stage, the moon is not visible from Earth because the side illuminated by the sun is facing away from us.
2. Waxing Crescent: A small part of the moon becomes visible as a curved shape.
3. First Quarter: Half of the moon's face is visible, resembling a semi-circle.
4. Waxing Gibbous: More than half, but not all, of the moon is visible.
5. Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is visible, appearing as a complete circle.
6. Waning Gibbous: Similar to the waxing gibbous phase, but the visible portion starts decreasing.
7. Third Quarter: Half of the moon's face is visible again, but the opposite side compared to the first quarter.
8. Waning Crescent: Only a small portion of the moon is visible in a curved shape.
Now, considering your question, when does the moon appear to be getting smaller? It is during the phases from the full moon to the new moon. These phases are called the waning phases, which include the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.
During these weeks, the illuminated portion of the moon that we can see from Earth decreases gradually each night, giving the impression of the moon "getting smaller" until it reaches the new moon phase when it is not visible at all.
Remember that the exact timing and duration of each moon phase may vary slightly each month, so it is recommended to consult a lunar calendar or an astronomical app for the specific dates and times of these phases.