Full moon

Full Moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is completely illuminated as seen from Earth. This happens when Earth is located directly between the Sun and the Moon (more exactly, when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°). This means that the lunar hemisphere facing Earth – the near side – is completely sunlit and appears as a circular disk. The full moon occurs roughly once a month.

The term full moon is also used to describe the fourth of the four primary phases of the Moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and third quarter. These phases occur at slightly different times when viewed from different points on Earth. A full moon is often thought of as an event of a full night's duration. This is somewhat misleading because the Moon seen from Earth is continuously becoming larger or smaller (though much too slowly to notice with the naked eye). Its absolute maximum size occurs at the moment expansion has stopped.

Full Moon Cycle

The full moon cycle is a cycle of about 29.53 days on average. This is the length of time it takes for the Moon to go through one whole lunar phase cycle (from new moon to new moon). The exact duration of a full moon cycle can vary by as much as several hours due to the non-circular shape of the Moon's orbit.

Full Moon and Culture

Many cultures around the world have myths and beliefs associated with the full moon. For example, the full moon is often associated with insanity and lunacy. The word lunacy is derived from the Latin word for moon. In many cultures, the full moon is also associated with supernatural phenomena, such as werewolves and vampires.

Full Moon and Tides

The full moon has a significant effect on the Earth's tides. When the moon is full, the gravitational pull of the moon and sun are combined. This results in high tides that are higher than average, known as spring tides.

See Also

• Lunar phase
• New moon
• First quarter
• Third quarter
• Lunacy
• Spring tide

References

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