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MOON WATCHING DURING THE CURRENT YEAR

 [Peak years of the Moon's 18.6-year cycle, the Major Lunar Standstill, are 2006 and 2024-25]

SEPTEMBER through December 2008

  • SOUTHERNMOST MOON -- Sept. 8, 2008 (1st quarter Moon near Equinox)
    • rise ~3:30 p.m. EDT
    • transit ~7:45 p.m. EDT -- Moon low in the South
    • set ~midnight

  • NORTHERNMOST MOON -- Sept. 21-22, 2008 (3rd quarter Moon near Equinox)
    • rise ~11:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 21
    • transit ~7:00 a.m. EDT -- Moon high overhead Sept. 22
    • Autumnal Equinox @ 11:44 a.m. EDT
    • set ~3:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 22

  • SOUTHERNMOST MOON -- Oct. 6, 2008 (1st Quarter Moon near Equinox)
    • rise ~2:00 p.m. EST
    • transit ~6:15 p.m. EST -- Moon low in the South @ sunset
    • set ~10:30 p.m. EST

  • NORTHERNMOST MOON -- Oct. 18-19, 2008 (4 days after Full Moon)
    • rise ~8:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 18
    • transit ~4:40 a.m. EDT -- Moon high overhead Oct. 19
    • set ~12:50 p.m. EDT Oct. 19

  • SOUTHERNMOST MOON -- Nov. 2, 2008 (4 days after New Moon)
    • rise ~12:15 p.m. EDT
    • transit ~4:00 p.m. -- Moon low in the South
    • set ~8:15 p.m. EDT

  • NORTHERNMOST MOON -- Nov. 14-15, 2008 (2 days after Full Moon)
    • rise ~5:30 p.m. EST Nov. 14
    • transit ~1:35 a.m. EST -- just past Full Moon high overhead
    • set ~9:40 a.m. EST Nov. 15

  • SOUTHERNMOST MOON -- Nov. 29, 2008 (2 days after New Moon)
    • rise ~8:50 a.m. EST
    • transit ~1:10 p.m. EST -- Moon low in the South
    • set ~5:30 p.m. EST

  • NORTHERNMOST MOON -- Dec. 12-13, 2008 (Full Moon near Winter Solstice)
    • rise ~4:00 p.m. EST
    • transit ~12:10 a.m. EST -- Full Moon high overhead
    • set ~8:20 a.m. EST

  • SOUTHERNMOST MOON -- Dec. 26, 2008 (New Moon near Winter Solstice)
    • rise ~6:45 a.m. EST
    • transit ~11:00 a.m. EST -- Moon low in the South @ midday (not visible)
    • set ~3:15 p.m.

SOUTHERNMOST MOON DETAILS -- Look for the Moon at its most southern declination (-27°) low in the South at the transit times indicated above -- on Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 2, Nov. 29 and Dec. 26.

NORTHERNMOST MOON DETAILS -- The Moon reaches its most northern declination (+27°) on Sept. 22, Oct. 19, Nov. 15, and Dec. 13. Look for the Moon high overhead on these dates at the transit times indicated above.

LOOKING INTO 2009 -- As we move into 2009, the monthly northern and southern extremes along the horizon of the moonrise and moonset will not be as great as they have been during 2005-2007, since we will be moving away from 2006, the peak year of the Moon's 18.6-year cycle. For more information on the Major Lunar Standstill and the Moon's 18.6-year cycle, click here.




A project conceived by Dr. Judith S. Young
Professor of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
e-mail: Judith Young at young@astro.umass.edu

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