JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Where‘s the moon and why can’t we see it?
Once a month, the sky is as bright as a spotlight when the moon is full. But, there‘s another time during the month when the sky is dark. That would be the new moon and it is happening on Halloween night.
Cue the spooky music...
What is a New Moon?
According to almanac.com, a new Moon is essentially the opposite of a full Moon. During a full Moon, we see the side of the Moon that is illuminated by the Sun, giving the Moon its bright, glowing appearance. During a new Moon, however, we see the side of the Moon that is not being illuminated by the Sun, which makes the Moon blend in with the night sky.
This fall, the new moon officially “rises” on Nov. 1 at 8:47 a.m.
Moods & Moons
Maybe you think your mood is affected by the moon phase. The Cleveland Clinic did a study in 2022 on human behavior and how/if the moon is the cause. The article covers everything from mental health to menstrual cycles and how as humans, our bodies are both on a cycle (28 days for menstrual) and full of water (55-78%), which scientifically are influenced by the lunar cycle.
But ask anyone if the moon phases make a difference in their lives and you’ll get a wide variety of answers: from an increase in crime to their pets being weird, i.e. howling at the moon.
Tides with a New Moon
Spring tides always happen when the Moon is at the full or new phase, which is when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment. The National Ocean Services defines a spring tide as the ‘springing forth’ of the tide during a new and full moon, also popularly known as a “King Tide”.