• About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • START HERE
  • CONNECT
    • FREE FUN Sign Up
  • ENGAGE
    • User Guide
    • Log In
    • Register
  • SHOP
  • FREEBIES

On2 In2

Find Your Fun - LIVE IT™

  • CHALLENGE
    • Air
      • Watch: High Flying
    • Athletics
    • Ball & Racket
      • Watch: Ball Games
    • Exploration
      • Watch: Climbing
      • Watch: Cross-Country Cycling
    • Martial Arts
    • Mind Games
    • Ride
      • Watch: Great Rides
    • Snow & Ice
      • Watch: Adventure Skiing
      • Watch: Downhill Runs
    • Target
    • Team
    • Water
      • Watch: Underwater Discoveries
      • Watch: Cranking Surf
  • CREATE
    • Visual Arts
      • Watch: Art Works
      • Watch: Photography
      • Watch: Thoughts on Filmmaking
      • Watch: Digital Arts
    • Performing Arts
      • Amateur Night LIVE
      • Watch: The Dance
      • Watch: Theatre Arts
      • Watch: Music Making
    • Creative Writing
    • Collections
      • Watch: Collector Confessions
  • CULTIVATE
    • Gardening
    • Cookery
    • Husbandry
    • Watch: Agrarian Pursuits
  • EXPERIENCE
    • Travel
      • Watch: Destinations
    • Adventure
      • Watch: Tours de Force
    • Nature
      • Watch: Natural Beauty
    • Gastronomy
  • ENLIGHTEN
    • Insight
      • Watch: Introspection
      • Watch: Creative Perspectives
    • Cosmos
      • Watch: Cosmos Channel
    • History
    • Science
      • Watch: Night Skies
      • Watch: Natural Sciences
  • MEDIA MIX
    • Live Streaming
      • Live Stream Program Guide
    • Video
    • Music
      • Special Concerts LIVE
      • Nashville Music LIVE
      • Watch: Music Videos
      • Watch: Classical Concert Series
      • Watch: Music Making
    • Books
      • BOOKS To LOVE ❤️
    • PLAYLISTS
      • Biodoc: Life Inspired
      • Biodoc: Super Dogs
      • Comedy: People & Phones
      • Comedy of Manners: Finding #Love
      • espnW Series: Run Mama Run
      • Fright Night Movies
      • Visual Soundscapes: Planet Earth
  • Live Stream Program Guide

Moon Gazing

September 30, 2020 By Zola Zeester Leave a Comment

“See yonder fire! It is the moon
Slow rising o’er the eastern hill.
It glimmers on the forest tips,
And through the dewy foliage drips
In little rivulets of light,
And makes the heart in love with night.”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christus, The Golden Legend (1872)

It may seem strange to some, but a full moon can take my breath away. I stop and stare.  It seems to draw me in every time with a mysterious magnetism. And, it’s just so big and bright and beautiful! I always find myself wanting to share the experience with whoever may be nearby— ‘Look at that amazing moon!’  I also typically snap half a dozen photos trying to capture the moment (never does look quite as beautiful as I’d actually seen it, but I keep trying).

Super Blue Blood Moon rising over downtown Austin January 31, 2018
Super Blue Blood Moon 1/31/2018
Moon gazing at its best with a moon shimmering over the Pacific Ocean
Malibu July 2012
A big, bright full moon over the Santa Monica Mountains from Malibu Road was a moon gazers delight
Supermoon over Santa Monica Mountains 5/2012
Full moon in fog shimmers over the Pacific Ocean from Malibu Road
Shimmering Fog, Malibu 5/2012
A full moon glows and state capital shines over downtown Austin, Texas
Downtown Austin 10/2013
A full moon on Christmas hadn't happened in four decades, making this full moon over the Christmas Tree specially beautiful, and the best moon gazing for Christmas 2015
Over the Christmas Tree 12/2015
A full moon rising over downtown Austin was gorgeous in the fall of 2016
Supermoon Rising Over the City 11/2016
A big, bright full moon appeared in October 2017 for moon gazers
Harvest Moon 10/2017
Moon gazers at Zeester HQ got a thrill when a full Beaver Moon appeared in the window November 2017
Beaver Moon 11/2017
Saw a fantastic Super Snow Moon while moon gazing on Singer Island.
Super Snow Moon 2/19/19 Singer Island

 

Over the years, the response to my moon gazing has been somewhat mixed. Although friends will kindly indulge me with a look up, and everyone is interested in special events like the January 2018 Super Blue Blood Moon, many don’t quite get my fascination with the Moon.

Following a special lunar event, a full moon may seem very ordinary to some as it happens every month (well, almost every month– February 2018 was a month without a full moon), or there’s sometimes a tendency for people to believe nothing good happens during a full moon (or worse– something really bad happens).  I feel nothing negative or ordinary at all when gazing at the Moon, and decided long ago this moon thing might have something to do with my zodiac sign, Cancer the crab. According to astrologers, Cancer is ruled by the Moon – making me a ‘moonchild’.  However, astrology can’t explain everything because there are plenty of non-Cancer moon gazers out there, and it’s been going on for thousands of years.

 

 

The Moon was revered throughout ancient societies as humans began to recognize the Moon’s influence on life cycles– crops, tides, fertility, and some form of moon worship can be found in most ancient religions, from the ancient Celts to the Egyptians.  Probably the most enduring and enthusiastic moon gazers are the Japanese.

Tsukimi (or ‘Otsukimi’, literally ‘moon-viewing’, also known as ‘Jugoya’) refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the Harvest Moon (typically September/October in today’s calendar).  Still popular today, this celebratory moon-viewing in Japan is an aesthetic custom with a spiritual component that can be traced back as far as the Heian period (794 to 1185) when Japanese aristocrats held events aboard boats to view the Moon’s reflection on the water’s surface.  Modern Tsukimi festivities continue with the traditions as people gather on the evening of the full harvest moon at a place the Moon can be clearly seen, decorate with pampas grass, and serve white rice dumplings and other seasonal foods known collectively as Tsukimi dishes, and sake as offerings to the Moon.  In Buddhism, a full moon is a symbol of enlightenment, and the phases of the Moon represent the changes of life. In Shinto, the Moon is a symbol of the wonder, beauty and awe of natural phenomenon. There’s also a long-established obsession in Japan with the Moon and its affect on poetic inspiration.

When you’re an avid moon gazer or a newbie, it helps to know the best dates and times to look for the Moon as it changes with the seasons as well as moon phases.  Below are Moonrise/Moonset time/position tables (along with explanatory notes) provided by Karen Masters, Ask an Astronomer – Cornell University, and full moon calendars .

 

Moon gazing is a long-established tradition, and will fill you with wonder and inspiration.

 

Moonrise/Moonset Times

The time of day the Moon rises or sets depends on its phase. The table below summarizes moonrise and moonset times. [Note: “Local noon” and “local midnight” as used in the table are the points in time when the Sun crosses the meridian, and exactly 12 hours later. This can be different from the time on your watch because that time reflects time zones used to determine local time. Zola uses Willy Weather website and free app to find the times for moonrise and moonset, but you can search any local or online weather related resource for that information.]

If you're a moon gazer, it helps to have Moonrise and Moonset time tables

Moonrise/Moonset Position

When the Moon is new, it rises and sets with the Sun, and the position of Moonrise and Moonset varies just like that of Sunrise and Sunset. When the Moon is full, however, the pattern is inverted. The chart below sets it all out. [Note: The chart is for the Northern Hemisphere. For Southern Hemisphere moon gazers, exchange North for South in the chart.  A certain amount of variation in the direction depends on your latitude.]

If you're a moon gazer, it's good to know what direction to look. So, here's a Moonrise and Moonset position chart.

FULL MOON CALENDAR

I must admit my moon gazing avocation is haphazard.  I tend to just look up at the night sky and see what’s up there as there’s pleasure in every moon phase, and a dark, clear night with no moon is the perfect time for stargazing.  But, there are those that prefer to make a moon watching plan to avoid missing something special, prepare telescopes and camera equipment, schedule a visit to an observatory, park area with good moon viewing, or attend a moon festival to add more to the experience.  It’s a great night for a party, field trip or peaceful meditation — your choice.  Below are 2019 & 2020 Full Moon Calendars for US and Canada (times indicated on tables are Eastern Time Zone) courtesy of the Old Farmer’s Almanac).  [Note:  A full moon occurs around the globe at the same moment regardless of location, but there’s a difference in date and time because of time zones.  To find the exact date/time of the full moon anywhere on Earth, go to the moon phases – lunar calendar ⇒ here and search by location and year.]

Check out this full moon calendar and learn more about the joys of moon gazing here On2In2™️
Check out this full moon calendar and learn more about the joys of moon gazing here On2In2™️

LUNAR SPECIAL EVENTS 

Hey there moon gazers!  If you missed the first full moon and lunar eclipse of 2019, there’s still time to watch a video recording of this very special total lunar eclipse.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button on the media player below ↓

 

⇒⇒ Did you miss the July 27, 2018 stream broadcast of the longest total lunar eclipse (aka “Blood Moon”) of the century?  Or, do you want to see it again?  There’s still time to watch a video recording of this special event via Photographing Space camera positioned in South Africa.  Just click/tap the play button in the center of the media player below↓

 

Information/Resources:
How Does the Position of Moonrise and Moonset Change? Cornell University – Ask an Astronomer
April 2018 is Global Astronomy Month, and the Moon will celebrated this year with a series of special programs for rediscovering this bright, beautiful orb in Earth’s night sky (Astronomers Without Borders)
A Planet’s Domicile in Astrology (Wikipedia) – In astrology, a planet’s domicile is the zodiac sign over which it has rulership, and the assignments of the ruling planets appear to be based upon the Northern Hemisphere seasons. The Sun was awarded to Leo and Cancer the Moon as the months the Sun passed through these two zodiac signs were the warmest and had the longest days in ancient times.
Photography: John William Draper (1811-1882) was the first to successfully take an ‘astrophotograph’ in 1840, a quite amazing detailed photo of a full moon.
Tsukimi history, Wikipedia

It's easy and fun to join On2In2 social networkWe’d love to hear from you!  If you’d like to comment on this article, join the conversation, or share your moon gazing experiences, and you have not yet registered as an On2In2™ playmaker, please sign up via the ‘Engage page’.  Don’t worry, it’s pretty quick and easy.

 

 

Get more fun delivered straight to your inbox. It's easy to sign up for the On2In2™ newsletter.

 

Feature photo of moon gazing at Mount Tamalpais State Park, California, USA is courtesy of Todd Diemer/Unsplash CC0
Moon gazing photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Hank Conner, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Zola’s moon gazing photo album, © 2018-19 Zeester Media LLC

Filed Under: Cosmos, Enlighten, Video Tagged With: Astronomy, Stargazing

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Log In/Log Out

LOOKING For Something?

FREE 2 WATCH: Downhill Runs

Mountain and snow make for fun skiing. Watch the best videos of winter fun on skies and boards.

FREE 2 WATCH: Love Stories ❤️

Finding love in a candy box of assorted chocolates

FREE 2 WATCH: Planet Earth Video Series

Watching nature videos can take you away from the stress of the day and bring on an feeling of happiness.

FREE 2 WATCH – Creatives @ PLAY

In this collection of video documentaries, artists reveal thoughts and feelings about their work and living a creative life.
https://youtu.be/DLgDKeih7hQ
Find recommended titles from the book lovers at On2In2™ Book Buzz Club.

FIND YOUR FUN

Alternative Apps Art Arts & Crafts Astronomy Baking Bicycle Biography Birding Boating California Concert Dance Digital Art Documentary Drinks Ecotourism Entertainment Environment Exploration Folk FREEBIES Genealogy Glacier Hiking Humor Indie Jazz Music Ocean Photography Planet Earth Poetry R&B Recipe Rock Skiing Soul Space Travel Stargazing Surfing Tennis Thriller Wildlife Wine

FUN FOR YOUR INBOX

Footer

MUCH 2 SEE

  • Watch: Cosmos Channel
  • Watch: Natural Beauty
  • Watch: Night Skies

THINGS 2 DO

  • Create
  • Cultivate
  • Challenge

PLACES 2 GO

  • Travel
  • Adventure
  • Watch: Destinations

PEOPLE 2 MEET

  • Biodoc: Life Inspired
  • Insight
  • Play With Us

FOOD & DRINKS

  • Cookery
  • Gastronomy
  • Watch: Agrarian Pursuits

JUST LAUGHS

  • Comedy of Manners: Finding #Love
  • Comedy: People & Phones
  • Dog Speak

Copyright © 2021 · Zeester Media LLC· Privacy & Security· Terms