Horns of the crescent moon tell your day
Crescent moon at Western sky in Waxing Evening
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From new moon to full moon, the moon is said to be waxing and from full moon to new moon, it is said to be waning. Without referring the calendar, by watching the crescent moon on the night sky, we can fix the day in waxing or in waning. You want to know how? Please read further. This hub will explain you to predict the period.
The tips of the crescent moon are called the horns of the moon. The horns or cusps of the moon are always turned away from the sun, the line joining them being perpendicular to the ecliptic (Sun’s annual apparent path on the sky). Therefore the bright side (limb) is turned to the sun.
When the moon is waxing (after new moon) it is east of sun so that the bright limb is at the western side of the disc and the horns point eastward. Therefore at rising the horns are pointed downwards and at setting they are pointed upwards.
When the moon is waning (after full moon) it is on the western side of the sun so that the bright limb is at the eastern side of the disc and the horns point westward. Therefore at rising the horns are pointed upwards and at setting they are pointed downwards.
When the horns point eastward, you are in waxing. Pointing the horns westward indicates that you are in waning.
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