<p>A friend of mine saw a video that claimed the moon appears to be at the feet of the constellation Virgo about once every 17 years with its next occurrence being in September 2017. Is there any reliable sources that back this up? What I mean by a "reliable source" is an organization that speaks with authority on these matters such as NASA. I would prefer that it is available online, however I understand if it is not. If it is, please provide a direct link to it. If it is not online, please quote verbatim what it says about it, preferably in context. Also, here is a picture of what it might mean for the moon to be at the feet of Virgo (do note that the moon might not be to scale):</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/75Hf4.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/75Hf4.png" alt="Moon at Virgo&#39;s feet"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T18:17:31.393Z
"At the feet of Virgo" is a pretty vague concept. The moon is pretty close to the ecliptic so its going to pass by Virgo once a month (Virgo is a zodiac constellation because, be definition, it is on the ecliptic). Depending on how you define "at the feet of Virgo" the moon is in this configuration about once a month, not every seventeen years.
zephyr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T18:28:04.353Z
@zephyr I guess it would mean below virgo, so near [Mu Virginis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_Virginis). I will add a picture of where the moon might be located when it is "at the feet of Virgo".
Christian Sirolli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T18:35:15.893Z
I think my same comment applies then, this happens about once a month, not once every 17 years. Play around in [this planetarium](https://neave.com/planetarium/) and see for yourself. You can see the (new) moon is near Mu Virginis and "at the feet of Virgo" this upcoming Oct. 30th, 2016. Either your friend is wrong, or he meant something more specific like a more precise location or else a particular moon phase (like a full moon) in conjunction with the position.
zephyr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T20:50:49.550Z
In September, Virgo sets soon after the sun. Its stars will be lost in the twilight. The moon would only be visible as a very thin crescent.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-15T15:10:23.407Z
Perhaps this 17 year occurrence is when the sun is lined up with virgo and the moon is near her "feet" within the month of Tishri (September/October).
Christian Sirolli
<the-moon><constellations>
Recurrence of Moon at Virgo's "feet"
Christian Sirolli
# Recurrence of Moon at Virgo's "feet"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-28)

A friend of mine saw a video that claimed the moon appears to be at the feet of the constellation Virgo about once every 17 years with its next occurrence being in September 2017. Is there any reliable sources that back this up? What I mean by a "reliable source" is an organization that speaks with authority on these matters such as NASA. I would prefer that it is available online, however I understand if it is not. If it is, please provide a direct link to it. If it is not online, please quote verbatim what it says about it, preferably in context. Also, here is a picture of what it might mean for the moon to be at the feet of Virgo (do note that the moon might not be to scale):

[![Moon at Virgo's feet](https://i.sstatic.net/75Hf4.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/75Hf4.png)

**Tags:** the-moon, constellations

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "At the feet of Virgo" is a pretty vague concept. The moon is pretty close to the ecliptic so its going to pass by Virgo once a month (Virgo is a zodiac constellation because, be definition, it is on the ecliptic). Depending on how you define "at the feet of Virgo" the moon is in this configuration about once a month, not every seventeen years.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I guess it would mean below virgo, so near [Mu Virginis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_Virginis). I will add a picture of where the moon might be located when it is "at the feet of Virgo".  
> **username_1**: I think my same comment applies then, this happens about once a month, not once every 17 years. Play around in [this planetarium](https://neave.com/planetarium/) and see for yourself. You can see the (new) moon is near Mu Virginis and "at the feet of Virgo" this upcoming Oct. 30th, 2016. Either your friend is wrong, or he meant something more specific like a more precise location or else a particular moon phase (like a full moon) in conjunction with the position.  
> **username_2**: In September, Virgo sets soon after the sun. Its stars will be lost in the twilight. The moon would only be visible as a very thin crescent.  
> **username_0**: Perhaps this 17 year occurrence is when the sun is lined up with virgo and the moon is near her "feet" within the month of Tishri (September/October).  

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## 0 answers

