Moon

All About the Moon

When the Moon is not in its new phase, it can be seen on clear days or nights from anywhere on the surface of Earth if you know when to look. The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite, and has never been given any other scientific name. The Moon is about 384,403 kilometers from Earth, and has an approximate diameter of 3,476 km. The Moon is actually believed to be slowly moving farther away from Earth, at a rate of about 4cm per year!

The Moon makes one full orbit around the Earth every 29.5 days. During this period the Moon enters a series of phases, which changes the amount of light reflected off its surface and its visible shape to the naked eye from Earth. The Moon differs from most natural satellites of other planets in that its orbit is close to the plane of the ecliptic and not in the Earth's equatorial plane.

Full Moon Names for 2010

Zodiac Astrology - Moon

Full Moon Names for 2010

By Joe Rao
SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
posted: 27 January 2010
07:20 am ET

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. Those tribes of a few hundred years ago kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

There were some variations in the moon names, but in general the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England on west to Lake Superior. European settlers followed their own customs and created some of their own names. Since the lunar ("synodic") month is roughly 29.5 days in length on average, the dates of the full moon shift from year to year.

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Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight

Zodiac Astrology - Moon

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight

By Robert Roy Britt Editorial Director

29 January 2010

Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name.

But why will this moon be bigger than others? Here's how the moon works:

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Moon Phases and Keywords: (a typical 1 month cycle)

Zodiac Astrology - Moon

Moon Phases and Keywords: (a typical 1 month cycle)

New Moon - New beginnings, initiation, birth, bring forth, time to start projects, Start of a new cycle for a month. Begin the time of increase and expansion that lasts until the next Full Moon. Time to start relationships, plant gardens, renew. A feeling of energy, impulsivity, spontaneous planning. Fresh possibilities.
2nd Quarter Moon - A time showing what change is needed to take advantage of the seeds sown in the new moon. A time of "things come to a head." Movement toward solutions. A time to set apart and go with your ideas. Begin to bring whatever you start at New Moon to fruition. Building, creating, planning.
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