Go young moon hunting April 6
Sunday, April 6, 2008
This evening, people in the northern hemisphere have a chance to spot the youngest of young moons.
The moon was new – more or less between the Earth and sun – at around 4 a.m. Universal Time today. For the Central Time zone in the U.S., that was 11 p.m. last night. We can’t see the moon when it’s new because it’s hidden in the sun’s glare.
It’s usually a day or two after new moon that we see the moon come back into view in the evening. That’s true except in spring. During the spring months – March and April for us, September and October for the southern hemisphere – the ecliptic, or path of the sun, moon, and planets makes a steep angle with respect to the horizon in the evening.
And that means the moon is as high as possible above the sunset, making it a great time to spot a young moon. At early dusk in Europe Sunday evening, it’s possible – though very difficult – to catch a waxing crescent moon that’s only 13 to 16 hours past new. That’s close to the record for the youngest moon ever seen.
From North America, the moon is a few hours older – but maybe the youngest moon you’ve ever seen. Starting 30 minutes after sunset this evening, look above the sunset point on your western horizon for the whisker-thin crescent moon barely visible in the twilight. Binoculars will help.
As seen from the American east coast, the moon is about 21 hours past new at sunset Sunday evening. As seen from the American west coast, it’s some 24 hours past new and sets over one hour after sunset Sunday evening.
You can figure out the age of the moon you see Sunday evening. The April new moon fell on Sunday, April 6, at precisely 3:55 a.m. Universal Time (UT). Converting UT to North American time zones, that puts the new moon at 11:55 p.m. (Saturday, April 5) for Eastern Daylight Time; 10:55 p.m. (April 5) Central Daylight Time; 9:55 p.m. (April 5) Mountain Daylight Time and 8:55 pm. (April 5) Pacific Daylight Time. Note the time that you see the moon at dusk tonight to figure out the age of the young moon. This almanac page lists sites whereby you can find the setting times for the sun and moon in your sky.
By the way, when the moon swings between the Earth and sun at new moon, the lighted half or day side of the moon is facing away – and moon’s night side faces Earth. Plus a new moon is hidden in the sun’s glare. That’s why the moon is so difficult to see around the time of new moon.
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