Read and Understand a Moon Phase Clock

November 13, 2024

A Moon Phase clock is a unique timepiece that helps stay on top of the moon’s phases and better understand the lunar cycle. Here’s a guide to understanding its display and the significance of each phase.

The Different Phases of the Moon:

Full Moon: The most prominent and well-known stage of the lunar cycle is the Full Moon. During this phase, the entire face of the moon is being illuminated by the sun. This occurs when the earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon, allowing sunlight to fully light up the moon’s surface. The Full Moon appears brightest for one night with this phase lasting around 3 days as it transitions into the Waning Phase.

Waning: The Waning Gibbous phase occurs just after the Full Moon. During this phase the moon starts to gradually decrease in visibility. The moon remains more than half-lit but slowly starts to lose its brightness each night. This phase lasts about 11-13 days.

New Moon: This marks the beginning of the lunar cycle and is characterised by the moon being almost completely invisible from earth. During this phase, the moon is positioned between the earth and the sun. The side illuminated by the sun is hidden from us, making the moon blend into the night sky. This lunar phase lasts from 1-3 days.

Waxing: The Waxing Crescent phase of the moon comes after the New Moon. During this phase, the moon starts to become visible from earth. This phase starts off with a slim, crescent shape silver that shines from the sun and becomes visible in the night sky. The crescent then continues to grow in size over the next few days. The waxing crescent is often seen in the western sky after sunset and is the initial step towards the Full Moon. This lunar phase will last between 11-13 days.

How the Moon Clock Works

The illustrations around the Moon Clock give an indication of the current phase of the moon. The Moon Phase Clock works on a timed mechanism taking 29.5 days for a complete rotation. The exact lunar cycle is 29 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes. For this reason, it is recommended to reset you Moon Phase Clock during a full moon from time to time to ensure continued accuracy.

Did you know you can track moonrise and moonset times with your clock?

While the Moon Clock does not display the times, you can calculate them based on the current phase. For example, during the New Moon phase, the moon rises and sets with the sun, so it's up during the day and invisible at night. During a Full Moon, the moon rises as the sun sets and sets as the sun rises resulting in a full night of moonlight.