Full Moon and Quarter Moon

When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

When the whole earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
call the lunar phase: "full".

Is it any wonder that so many children in the U.S. have difficulty
understanding science and fractions (math)?

Of course, there are reasons for the names we use; but I don't believe
there are any "good" reasons for the mutually contradictory terms used
for the above mentioned lunar phases.

It's enough to make one wonder if some organization (comparable to the
IAU) long, long ago felt there was no choice but to accept a
compromise between two lunar phase nomenclature systems. After all,
the current system has all appearances of having been adopted by a
group of lunatics!

Does this discrepancy exist in other countries?

Would the IAU be willing to draft and adopt a more rational,
scientific, lunar phase nomenclature?

Wouldn't it be nice if two halves equaled one whole (or two quarters
equaled one half) in astronomy just as it does in mathematics?

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/

In article ,
Willie R. Meghar wrote:
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

We do also call it a half moon, at least in Britain.

The terms "first quarter" and "last quarter" refer to the quarters of
the lunar month rather than the illuminated portion of the moon.

Would the IAU be willing to draft and adopt a more rational,
scientific, lunar phase nomenclature?

Please, no. If people find it confusing they can refer to "half moons"
without any need for authorisation.

-- Richard

(Richard Tobin) wrote:

Willie R. Meghar wrote:
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

We do also call it a half moon, at least in Britain.

Hoo-rah! for the British! In the U.S. the term "quarter" is used most
often.

Do the British differentiate between a "first half" and a "second
half?"

The terms "first quarter" and "last quarter" refer to the quarters of
the lunar month rather than the illuminated portion of the moon.

That may be the situation in Britain; but in the U.S. those terms are
often used to name specific phases.

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/

Willie R. Meghar wrote:


Would the IAU be willing to draft and adopt a more rational,
scientific, lunar phase nomenclature?

Wouldn't it be nice if two halves equaled one whole (or two quarters
equaled one half) in astronomy just as it does in mathematics?

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/

Why not ask the IAU rather than an amateur astronomy newsgroup which has
no authority?

Willie R. Meghar wrote:
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

When the whole earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
call the lunar phase: "full".

Is it any wonder that so many children in the U.S. have difficulty
understanding science and fractions (math)?

I think you're mistaking cause and effect. Many kids I've met who are
learning fractions aren't even aware of the terms "first quarter" and
"last quarter." Those who are aware of them generally haven't a problem
at all with fractions.

I'm not crazy about the workbooks they use nowadays. I think that has
more to do with kids and fractions than lunar phase nomenclature does.

--
Brian Tung
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.html

(Brian Tung) wrote:

Willie R. Meghar wrote:
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

When the whole earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
call the lunar phase: "full".

Is it any wonder that so many children in the U.S. have difficulty
understanding science and fractions (math)?

I think you're mistaking cause and effect. Many kids I've met who are
learning fractions aren't even aware of the terms "first quarter" and
"last quarter." Those who are aware of them generally haven't a problem
at all with fractions.

The intent was not for 'the' cause, nor even for a primary cause; but
instead was for a single, minor factor somewhat like one of the many
strands of straw that contributed to breaking the camel's back.

The accepted terminology leaves much room for confusion. Consider the
following quote found on page 113 of the fourth edition of "Astronomy:
from the Earth to the Universe" by Jay M. Pasachoff:

"(Instead of apologizing for the fact that astronomers call the same
phase both "quarter" and "half," I'll just continue with a straight
face and try to pretend that there is nothing strange about it.)"

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/

"Willie R. Meghar" wrote in message
...
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".


When my son was about 4 years old he described it as the 'apple moon' .

"OG" wrote:


"Willie R. Meghar" wrote in message
.. .
When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".


When my son was about 4 years old he described it as the 'apple moon' .

Dare I relate how my son, at a young age, pronounced "Venus?" :-)

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:01:30 -0700, Willie R. Meghar
wrote:

When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

We may say "first quarter", but we don't say "quarter moon". Note that
this is the ordinal "first", not "one quarter".

When the whole earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
call the lunar phase: "full".

We say "second quarter", or we say "full".

Is it any wonder that so many children in the U.S. have difficulty
understanding science and fractions (math)?

Of course, there are reasons for the names we use; but I don't believe
there are any "good" reasons for the mutually contradictory terms used
for the above mentioned lunar phases.

What contradiction? You are talking about two different things. When
discussing phases, well educated people often refer to first quarter
(half moon waxing), second quarter (full moon), third quarter (half
moon waning), and fourth quarter (new moon). I don't know anybody,
educated or otherwise, who calls the half-illuminated moon a "quarter
moon".

It's enough to make one wonder if some organization (comparable to the
IAU) long, long ago felt there was no choice but to accept a
compromise between two lunar phase nomenclature systems. After all,
the current system has all appearances of having been adopted by a
group of lunatics!

Lunar phases are completely rational: they are expressed as a
percentage from 0% to 100%, and naturally the quarters tend to be
called 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

Common names are also rational, although they follow a different
system: new, half, and full.

I don't think this is confusing school kids, or damaging their math
skills.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Chris L Peterson wrote:

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:01:30 -0700, Willie R. Meghar
wrote:

When half the earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
(in the U.S.) call the lunar phase: "quarter".

We may say "first quarter", but we don't say "quarter moon". Note that
this is the ordinal "first", not "one quarter".

I'll also note that I've only heard mention of the first, the third,
and the last quarters. Furthermore, third quarter is the same phase
as last quarter.

When the whole earth-facing hemisphere of the moon is illuminated we
call the lunar phase: "full".

We say "second quarter", or we say "full".

That's odd. I've never before heard the term "second quarter" used
for "full".

Is it any wonder that so many children in the U.S. have difficulty
understanding science and fractions (math)?

Of course, there are reasons for the names we use; but I don't believe
there are any "good" reasons for the mutually contradictory terms used
for the above mentioned lunar phases.

What contradiction? You are talking about two different things. When
discussing phases, well educated people often refer to first quarter
(half moon waxing), second quarter (full moon), third quarter (half
moon waning), and fourth quarter (new moon). I don't know anybody,
educated or otherwise, who calls the half-illuminated moon a "quarter
moon".

Intuitively, when we look at a "full" moon we're looking a "whole"
moon; but when we look at a phase where half as much of the
earth-facing moon is illuminated we call it a quarter. This sounds a
bit contradictory to me.

It's also seems contradictory when "half" and "quarter" are used for
the same phase. (See the quote I provided in my reply to Brian's
posting.)

It's enough to make one wonder if some organization (comparable to the
IAU) long, long ago felt there was no choice but to accept a
compromise between two lunar phase nomenclature systems. After all,
the current system has all appearances of having been adopted by a
group of lunatics!

Lunar phases are completely rational: they are expressed as a
percentage from 0% to 100%, and naturally the quarters tend to be
called 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

Clearly there are too many different systems for expressing lunar
phases!

The problem is that the commonly accepted (and taught) system in the
U.S. consists of components from more than one system.

Common names are also rational, although they follow a different
system: new, half, and full.

The system commonly taught in the U.S. is partially from one system
and partially from another. Typically we have: New, Waxing crescent,
First quarter, Waxing gibbous, Full, Waning gibbous, Third quarter and
Waning crescent.

I don't think this is confusing school kids, or damaging their math
skills.

The effects would be different on different individuals.

Willie R. Meghar
Observational Notes at:
http://meghar.blogspot.com/