Still, exposure to moonlight can lead to feelings of awe and peace, along with a greater sense of connection to the universe. There are also plenty of myths and legends about the moon’s power, though science has yet to find support for the more mystical among them. The moon plays an important role in Earth’s tides, and its phases help people keep track of passing months and seasons. Is it any wonder, then, that cultures around the world revere the moon as sacred - even magical? Many people consider its light somewhat special, since it has the power to brighten the darkest corners of the night. The moon is probably one of the first celestial bodies you learned to recognize. From harvest moon to blood moon, from crescent to quarter to full, the moon remains a familiar presence in the sky. On most nights, it’s possible to look up and see one of the moon’s many faces. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. We include products we think are useful for our readers.

However, a full lunar month (from new moon to new moon) is 29.5 days, because that’s how long it takes the moon to return to its position between the sun and Earth.Share on Pinterest Manuel Breva Colmeiro / Getty Images – Curated by Monica Pardo

It takes the moon a little over 27.32 days to complete one full revolution around the Earth.

After the full moon, the moon continues its journey back to its original position between the Earth and the sun, which is another new moon.

When the moon appears full, we see its full illuminated half, while the side that’s in complete shadow faces out into space.

The same is true in the third quarter, except the sides we see are reversed.

During the first quarter, we see half of the moon’s illuminated side and half of the moon’s shadowed side.

At this time, the moon’s illuminated side completely faces the sun, and we see the side that’s in full shadow.

During the new moon, the moon is between the Earth and the sun, and is therefore not illuminated at all from our perspective.

Remember that half the moon is always illuminated by the sun: it’s our vantage point on Earth that changes and determines what phase we see. The phases exist because from our perspective on Earth, we observe the illuminated portion of the moon differently as it makes its way around us. The moon travels the same path around the Earth every month, so it goes through the same monthly phases.

Talking to the moon meaning