The moon, like Nehru jackets, is out of fashion. With astronomers’ pursuit today of quasars and supernovas, our nearest neighbor seems too familiar to hold their interest. Observatories all but close up during its full phase, when lunar brilliance washes out the universe beyond.
Beginners pointing telescopes at the full moon are disappointed because the sun then shines straight down on the moon like a flash camera, erasing all shadows and highlights.
But not all phases are created equal. The year’s best and highest moon for observers occurs between March 8 and 11, when it suddenly explodes with breathtaking detail for anyone with binoculars or a small telescope. The phase responsible for these sudden riches is the first quarter.
This is a moon packed with misconception. Even its name is misleading. How many realize that a quarter-moon is the same thing as a half-moon? Or that of all the moon’s ...
