# "It was a dark evening with only the feeble light of a waning crescent moon." How much basic astronomy is widely understood by those not specifically interested in the subject?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 2, 2022, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200 "2022-11-02T08:29:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/81 "2022-11-03T10:15:25Z")
So, let me get this straight, are you all saying that the New Moon, Crescent Moon, Quarter Moon, etc. are the _same_ moon that just _look_ different in different so-called phases??? Because it seems obvious to me they are separate, differently-shaped moons that rotate into our view at different times. I suppose next you’ll be claiming the Blue Moon and Blood Moon aren’t unique celestial bodies either. Balderdash!
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/82 "2022-11-03T19:09:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I remember one time when I was sitting outside, and some folks walking past asked me what I was looking at. “The stars”, I replied. “Oh, are the stars out?”, they asked, without even looking up.
That definitely makes them incurious but let’s face it, not many stars are visible in your typical urban murk. I _do_ have an interest in astronomy but rarely pay attention to the stars when I’m in town.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/83 "2022-11-03T19:30:16Z")
Yes, but with a teleporter, you step into the teleporter and are in the next time zone over, and you have a drink. Rinse and repeat. Harder to land a jet, get a drink, and take off again.
Of course, this is well into the future where people have hypersonic jets as personal vehicles, so it wouldn’t have been that hard.
But then, if you have a teleporter, why not use it?
It’s been forever since I’ve read Ringworld, but it was basically a pub crawl.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/84 "2022-11-03T19:39:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> I remember one time when I was sitting outside, and some folks walking past asked me what I was looking at. “The stars”, I replied. “Oh, are the stars out?”, they asked, without even looking up.
In some cities, with the light pollution and haze, that is not so ridiculous.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/85 "2022-11-03T19:40:32Z")
> [@DesertDog](#):
>
> That definitely makes them incurious but let’s face it, not many stars are visible in your typical urban murk. I _do_ have an interest in astronomy but rarely pay attention to the stars when I’m in town.
Yeah, I know that the stars are _out_ when the sun goes down. That doesn’t mean I can actually see them. On a clear night, I can make out the Big Dipper and stars of that brightness. I still remember the first time I was at a decently dark sky location, and actually saw _stars_.
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### Author:  [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/86 "2022-11-03T21:41:57Z")
> [@Yllaria](#):
>
> If the crescent makes a C, then it’s waning. If it would fill the belly of a capital D, then it’s waxing.
By this I can deduce that you live in the Northern Hemisphere.
And I know that most people don’t know that. I remember trying to explain my mother that a lunar eclipse can be seen from all over the Earth (assuming you are on the side facing the moon) more or less the same but that a solar eclipse is only visible on a small spot at any given time and I did not manage. It was so frustrating, because it was evident to me but she did not care. And she was well read and new lots of things, but about other subjects. So, concernig the OP’s question: most people don’t care about astronomical details like waxing and waning and have no idea of the [distances](https://tomroelandts.com/articles/earth-moon-system-to-scale) involved.
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### Author:  [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/87 "2022-11-03T21:43:42Z")
Another interesting concept that connects the sun and the moon, especially crescent moons, is to think of the crescent moon as a bow, and someone, perhaps the goddess Artemis, is shooting an arrow from the bow. The arrow will be aiming at the sun.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/88 "2022-11-03T21:45:44Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#):
>
> By this I can deduce that you live in the Northern Hemisphere.
A couple of other people mentioned this and thanks to all of you. I hadn’t even considered thinking of that.
> [@JohnGalt](#):
>
> Another interesting concept that connects the sun and the moon, especially crescent moons, is to think of the crescent moon as a bow, and someone, perhaps the goddess Artemis, is shooting an arrow from the bow. The arrow will be aiming at the sun.
That is extremely poetic. Does it work in both hemispheres?
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### Author:  [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/89 "2022-11-03T21:53:06Z")
Yes, it does. And for countries lying close to the ecuator, the moon looks like it is waning or waxing horizontally, which is reflected in the flags of some of those countries if they happen to be muslim countries that have chosen to show the moon.
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### Author:  [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/90 "2022-11-03T21:54:16Z")
Yes, the bow and arrow will work in both hemispheres and also at the equator. It’s a way to visualize how much or how little the crescent tilts at different latitudes, and at which direction. Here’s a view of a new waxing crescent moon from [Sydney moon](https://www.maas.museum/observations/2014/05/28/the-visibility-of-the-crescent-moon-from-sydney-in-june-and-july-2014/), which is tilted the opposite direction from what we see in the United States.
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### Author:  [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/91 "2022-11-03T23:43:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> Yeah, I know that the stars are _out_ when the sun goes down. That doesn’t mean I can actually see them. On a clear night, I can make out the Big Dipper and stars of that brightness. I still remember the first time I was at a decently dark sky location, and actually saw _stars_.
Technically, the stars are out 24/7. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/92 "2022-11-03T23:46:15Z")
In the north, C comes before D, and in the dictionary, waning comes before waxing.
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/93 "2022-11-04T09:36:57Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#):
>
> And for countries lying close to the ecuator, the moon looks like it is waning or waxing horizontally
_If I know a song of Africa, of the giraffe and the African new moon lying on her back, of the plows in the fields and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers, does Africa know a song of me?_
–Isaak Dinesen
> [@JohnGalt](#):
>
> …think of the crescent moon as a bow, and someone, perhaps the goddess Artemis, is shooting an arrow from the bow. The arrow will be aiming at the sun.
In _Fantasia_’s “Pastorale” segment Unca Walt had this image of Artemis.
[ ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/b/b0/Fantasia-disneyscreencaps.com-10647_%281%29.jpg/)
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### Author:  [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/94 "2022-11-04T12:39:26Z")
Whenever I see an “inappropriate for the time of day in the Northern Hemisphere” moon in a movie or TV show I usually rail on about how “they must have filmed this in Australia”. My wife is generally amused.
Seriously, it bugs the shit out of me when they get the moon wrong. And, sorry, but,yes it is freaking obvious. Open your eyes and let things register. Especially if you’re one of those people who claim you never noticed this yet you can tell if they have an “out of era by 1 year” car in a film. Knowing that fact will never be useful, ever, unless you work in film/TV. Knowing how the moon “behaves” could help you if you are lost.
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### Author:  [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/95 "2022-11-04T13:38:12Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> In the north, C comes before D, and in the dictionary, waning comes before waxing
In Hungarian, I learned that the C stands for “csökken” (decrease), and the D stands for “dagad” (swell). Hungary being in the northern hemisphere of course. But there isn’t really a good equivalent in English. Chop away and Dump on?
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/96 "2022-11-04T15:32:58Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#):
>
> Seriously, it bugs the shit out of me when they get the moon wrong. And, sorry, but,yes it is freaking obvious. Open your eyes and let things register.
Your first sentence is probably the perfect reason for me not to bother noticing this. Forty-seven years on this planet and I’ve not noticed this “obvious” fact. I do know how to find Polaris, though. That’s good enough for me.
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/97 "2022-11-04T19:48:13Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#):
>
> Another interesting concept that connects the sun and the moon, especially crescent moons, is to think of the crescent moon as a bow, and someone, perhaps the goddess Artemis, is shooting an arrow from the bow. The arrow will be aiming at the sun.
What’s funny is that this is just about the most trivially obvious bit about the sun/moon dynamic. The moon is a round thing lit by the sun, so the brightest part of the moon is facing the sun, just like the brightest part of anything you illuminate at home is pointed at the thing you’re illuminating it with.
But we still don’t really think about it or get it unless someone points it out.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/98 "2022-11-04T19:50:20Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> What’s funny is that this is just about the most trivially obvious bit about the sun/moon dynamic. The moon is a round thing lit by the sun, so the brightest part of the moon is facing the sun, just like the brightest part of anything you illuminate at home is pointed at the thing you’re illuminating it with.
It’s obvious, at least, to those who understand that the moon’s light is reflected sunlight. I would not be at all surprised if that’s something that many people either (a) don’t know, or (b) learned once upon a time, and forgot.
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### Author:  [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/99 "2022-11-04T20:05:30Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> In the north, C comes before D, and in the dictionary, waning comes before waxing.
And in Spanish C stands for _creciente_ (growing) and the D can stand for _decreciente_ (waning, although the proper astronomical concept would be _menguante_), so that my grandmother could tell me as a young child that the moon lies. I just remembered her telling me that! 🙂 Must have been about half a century ago!
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### Author:  [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-a-dark-evening-with-only-the-feeble-light-of-a-waning-crescent-moon-how-much-basic-astronomy-is-widely-understood-by-those-not-specifically-interested-in-the-subject/974200/100 "2022-11-04T20:09:50Z")
Maybe this will help:
[ ](https://c.tadst.com/gfx/1200x675/moon-phases-explained.png?1)
from [https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/phases.html](https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/phases.html)
The moon rises about 50 minutes later each day, so by waning crescent, it’s 3 or 4 in the morning before it rises.
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