How to Match Phases of the Moon

For school assignments or for personal interest, matching phases of the moon from a lunar schedule to your own observations can be a satisfying experience. This task, however, requires important preparation in order to ensure success. Poor information or calculation will result in a missed opportunity. Luckily, with the proper resources and instruction, anyone can successfully identify and match phases of the moon.

Things You'll Need

  • Red cellophane
  • Flashlight
  • Rubber band
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Instructions

    • 1

      Acquire a lunar eclipse calendar for your area. Navigate to the appropriate web page of the Naval Oceanography website, enter the city nearest you, and print the resulting information. These calendars are usually printed in universal time, which is typically five hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.

    • 2

      Acquire a lunar rise and set calendar for your area. This can also be found and printed from the Naval Oceanography website; entering the city nearest you will bring up the appropriate information.

    • 3

      Acquire a chart of the phases of the moon in order to understand the proper term for each phase of the moon. See the resources for a chart from the Naval Oceanography website.

    • 4

      Wrap red cellophane over the light end of the flashlight, and secure it in place by placing a rubber band around it.

    • 5

      Match phases of the moon by making an observation during one of the major phases of the moon, or precisely in between a major phase in order to identify a minor phase (such as a waxing crescent). Use the moonrise/moonset calendar in conjunction with the lunar phase calendar in order to identify when the moon will be both in the sky, as well as when it ought to apply to a specific phase. Use the flashlight with cellophane to look at your charts while it is dark without ruining your night vision.