Observations

This section requires that you make multiple observations over the course of about a week and a half, starting a few days after new moon (January 28). It is possible, and even probable, that you will be clouded out for at least a portion of this window of opportunity, so it is imperative that you remain aware of the weather conditions so that you can optimize observations on nights that are not COMPLETELY cloudy. Since you are observing the moon, you will be able to do the necessary observations even on cloudy nights.

1. A few days after new moon, go and observe the moon soon after sunset.
   • Do all observations facing south.
   • Note the date and time.
   • Sketch its phase.
   • Note whether it is east or west of the meridian. The meridian is the imaginary line drawn on the sky from the north to the south that divides the sky into two halves.
   • Estimate how far (in degrees) the moon is east or west of the meridian.
2. Repeat this for at least 6 of the next 10 nights at the same time each night. Put all of your observations into a table with the following information for each observation:
   • The date & time of observation
   • The number of days between observations
   • The number of degrees and the direction away from the meridian (e.g. 30 west)
   • The number of degrees that the moon has moved (eastward or westward) since the previous observation.
   • The rate of motion of the moon since the previous observation in degrees per night (Just as you did in the sun section, divide the numbers of degrees that the moon has moved by the number of nights since the last observation.)