First Quarter Moon

Introduction

When to View

• The First Quarter Moon rises at noon.
• It is high overhead at sunset.
• It sets around midnight.

Astronomy Basics

• The Moon phases are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter and Waning Crescent.
• The First Quarter Moon occurs about a week after the New Moon.
• When seen from above, the First and Third Quarter Moons occur when the moon is at a 90-degree angle to a line between the earth and sun.
• The official astronomy term is “First Quarter” as opposed to “Half” because the moon is one quarter of the way through its cycle of orbiting the earth, as measured from one new moon to the next.

Appearance

• One half of the moon (50%) appears illuminated.
• The First and Third Quarter moons are also sometimes called “half moons” because we see exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow.
• A key astrological point is that “light and dark are in balance.”

More

• At the First Quarter Moon, the part of the moon that is illuminated is increasing.
• A common astrological theme for the first quarter moon is effort.

Theme Ideas

• Physical Action
• Effort / Tapas
• Building
• Possibilities
• Clearing Obstacles / Ganesha
• Tension
• Growth
• Individuality
• Secure Foundation for Growth