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Why is the phase in which half moon is visible called a quarter moon?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Half of the Moon you cannot see because it faces away from Earth. Half of the side you could see is in darkness at "half Moon". That makes 3/4 of the Moon invisible and 1/4 visible. Hence "a quarter Moon" is visible.
Another viewpoint:
No, that's not really the answer. This is the answer:
Let's start with "New Moon". Later, at "Full Moon", the Moon is halfway through its cycle of phases.
Halfway between these two phases we see a half Moon. That's called the "first quarter" phase, because the Moon is a quarter of the way through its phases.
So, that's why we see the half Moon at a "quarter" phase.
It does cause confusion.
Jo Kub
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Why is the phase in which half the moon is visible called a quarter moon?
Half of the Moon you cannot see because it faces away from Earth. Half of the side you could see is in darkness at "half Moon". That makes 3/4 of the Moon invisible and 1/4 visible. Hence "a quarter Moon" is visible. Another viewpoint: No, that's not really the answer. This is the answer: Let's start with "New Moon". Later, at "Full Moon", the Moon is halfway through its cycle of phases. Halfway between these two phases we see a half Moon. That's called the "first quarter" phase, because the Moon is a quarter of the way through its phases. So, that's why we see the half Moon at a "quarter" phase. It does cause confusion.
Phase of the moon when you only see half of the lighted side after a full moon?
That phase is called the third quarter or it could be called a waning half moon.
What is the phase of a planet when only half of its disc is visible?
Your question is not clear, but if your talking about the phases of the Moon, then the answer would be a 1st and 3rd quarter.
Why is the moon called a first quarter or last?
In the first quarter moon, the round portion of the visible moon faces west (forming the letter D when viewed in the northern hemisphere). In the last quarter phase the round portion faces west.
What is the phase of the moon called when it looks like a half a circle?
first or last quarter
What is a moon phase a week after a full moon?
We see a Half Moon illuminated. The name of this phase is called Last Quarter. First Quarter is 1 week before a Full Moon.
What is the moon phase a week after a full moon?
We see a Half Moon illuminated. The name of this phase is called Last Quarter. First Quarter is 1 week before a Full Moon.
What period of time elapses between the first quarter and the half moon?
* Dark Moon - Not visible * New Moon - Not visible, or traditionally, the first visible crescent of the Moon * Waxing Crescent Moon - Right 1-49% visible * First Quarter Moon - Right 50% visible * Waxing gibbous Moon - Right 51-99% visible * Full Moon - Fully visible * Waning gibbous Moon - Left 51-99% visible * Third Quarter Moon - Left 50% visible * Waning Crescent Moon - Left 1-49% visible * New Moon - Not visible ref from http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=moon+phases&gwp=13 Rob
What is half moon?
A half moon refers to both the first quarter and the third quarter moon phase.
What is the last quarter of a moon?
This is when the moon is half visible
How did the first quarter and thrid quarter phases get these names?
because only half of the visible moon is lite. we only see half the moon so only a quarter of the moon is lite.===================================Another take:After the New Moon . . .-- The 'first quarter' is the phase that's seen after 1/4 of the timeuntil the next New Moon has passed.-- The 'third quarter' is the phase that's seen after 3/4 of the timeuntil the next New Moon has passed.
What fraction of the moon can be seen from the moon when the moon is at its third quarter phase?
Half of it, the same as always. Half of the visible side of the Moon will be brightly lit by the Sun, and the other half is often dimly visible by reflected earthshine, sunlight that is reflected from the Earth and then shines down on the night side of the Moon.
