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The Full Moon during the year

(location: Berlin at 51.5° N, 13.4° E, year 2000)

Month

GMT

Elev.

Jan 20

23:03

57.1°

Feb 18

22:44

53.2°

Mar 20

23:58

36.9°

Apr 18

23:23

29.2°

May 18

23:37

19.2°

Jun 16

23:09

15.7°

Jul 16

23:31

15.9°

Aug 14

23:03

19.6°

Sep 12

22:30

25.5°

Oct 12

22:41

37.9°

Nov 10

22:07

45.9°

Dec 10

22:35

56.5°

The movie shows the transit of the full moon over the year. Did you notice that the elevation above horizon is much grater during winter than it is during summer ? The maximum values occur in December (56.5°) and January (57.1°), the minimum values in June (15.7°) and July (15.9°). What is the reason ?

Summer

An observer is located at O in the northern hemisphere (latitude 50°).

In the northern summer the north pole NP is inclined towards the sun.

At noon the (red) elevation angle of the sun is:

90° - 50° + 23.5° = 63.5°

Details and Details (deutsch)

The orbit of the moon has only a small inclination against the ecliptic plane (5.5°). So the moon can be assumed to be in the ecliptic plane of the sun.

Until midnight, the earth turned the observer by 180° to the opposite side. The elevation angle for the full moon (blue) is:

90° - 50° - 23.5° = 16.5°

Winter

Half a year later (winter) the earth has moved half around the sun in the ecliptic plane. As the inclination of the earth's axis remains constant the north pole is now away from the sun.

At noon the (red) elevation angle of the sun is:

90° - 50° - 23.5° = 16.5°

 

At midnight, the earth turned the observer by 180° to the opposite side. The elevation angle for the full moon (blue) is:

90° - 50° + 23.5° = 63.5°
 

 Download my applets:

Moon Calendar

Moon Phases


The Waxing Crescent Moon

Location: Berlin at 51.5° N, 13.4° E.

 Spring (April 7, 2000) at 18:25 GMT, shortly after sun set, the moon is quite high and inclined.


  Autumn (September 30, 2000) at 18:25 GMT, shortly after sun set, the moon is low and upright.


The overlay. The blue curve is the celestial equator.


Links:

Questions on Moon-Sighting

 

back to "Sun, Moon & Earth Applet"