moon rises full across a sparkling sea the sun cedes the sky
You want to know something that absolutely fascinates me? Of course you do! You’ll need to think about this a bit so let’s go … ‘a full moon always rises at sunset’ … think about that for a moment. Have you ever seen the full moon rise at any time other than sunset? You know, like in the middle of the night or in the morning? The answer will be no because it doesn’t happen. OK, so far, so good. Now hold that thought and add to the fact that the lunar cycle is fixed … well OK, let’s say regular at 29 and a half days (29.53059 days to be precise). So every 29 and a half days there’s another full moon. OK? Now the next bit gets confusing but stay with me and let’s quickly recap;
- full moon always at sunset
- full moon occurs every 29.5 days
Alrighty, there’s another cycle working here too, the seasons. Every day the days get longer or shorter depending on the season you’re in and by ‘day’ I’m referring to the amount of daylight. So, here in SE Australia the days are growing longer as we march toward Spring. There’s a full moon this Thursday (2nd August) and it will rise at sunset even though the day has lengthened. What balance!
There’s lots more moonphase related stuff over at Moonconnection.com which is where I lifted the diagram below;
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Courtesy Moonphases.com
Think about it next time you see a full moon rising … just remember ‘a full moon always rises at sunset’.
I’m the type of person who follows the moon and the seasons … I know where the moon will be (roughly!) at any given time of the day or night depending on where the lunar cycle’s up to.
Do you follow the moon? Do you use the sun to tell you which direction you’re facing? Do you live above the arctic circle? You can tell me what happens there! Do tell. I’m interested.
Geoffrey, a most timely post as I sit here, above the Arctic, and not so many hours ago at sunset debate the fullness of the moon outside our window at sunset! It is now hiding behind passing cloud but I know that mid-week I shall see the full brightness of that magnificent orb over the end of the street I now call “home.”
The brilliant blue light of your photo is wonderful and a lovely memory of what was once home! Swings and roundabouts, shifting tides and alternate seasons. Where would we be without them? Thank you!
Thanks Patti 🙂
Most timely indeed. I guess the sun’s always setting (and rising) somewhere on the planet … glad to have synced in with your movements 🙂
Without the rhythms of the moon I suspect life here would very different.
Oh my giddy, demented daze . . . Geoffrey, I am so embarrassed but I did get my lines well and truly crossed. I am north of the Equator, not above the Arctic – as much as I would love to be there now, hiding. For this massive overstatement I am blaming recent dental surgery (it was ugly . . .) painkillers, antibiotics and of course the moon!
Love your blue silver waters!
Thanks Patti … glad you clarified … I was trying to work out how you saw the sunset when up north it’s not … setting that is 🙂
oh, I so have a new appreciation for the wonder of the moon…the chart helps, but your picture captivates me, thank you Geoffrey 😉
I’m always in wonder of the moon … thank you Roxie 🙂
I love this information, and the enthusiasm behind it. I have another poem, a very unique one, which I hope to finish someday. I’ll just say that it will be nothing without the moon.
Thank you Yousei. The enthusiasm 🙂 If ever we find ourselves side by side at a rise of the full moon you’ll get to hear this explanation with diagrams and circles drawn in the sky 😉
I look forward to your poem that’s ‘nothing without the moon’ 🙂
A beautiful photograph full moon whose light has embellished the intense blue. I really like is a very romantic picture
Thank you Marie. It has a blue romantic feel … I liked the sparkle of wet shells on the sand 🙂
The ripples in the water look like the best quality shot silk in this photograph. So much beauty. Thank you.
And I hadn’t realised that a full moon always rises at sunset. This is the sort of information which lodges in my brain, so megathanks for it.
Thank you Sue. The shot silk (isn’t that just the nicest stuff?) effect arose from the five-second exposure which allowed the waves to move over the course of the exposure. The sea was thundering in that night (it was the night of king tide of the ‘supermoon’ back in May). You’ll never think of a full moon rise in quite the same way again … trust me 🙂
this photo is very elegant in its totality, perfect result, really fascinating this kind of photo
Thank you Fabrizio … the longish exposure time gave the waves freedom to move and create the dreamy drift.
As I gaze at your photograph, a calm sweeps over me, producing a meditative effect. I am enamored by the sun and the moon, each having its own pull. I’ve done little night photography, because it is such a difficult task. You’ve done a really good job, Sally
Thanks Sally. As I said on an earlier reply, the surf was pounding that night and the air a filled with a roar that caused us to yell to each other to be heard and we were not far apart. I say that because although it was very loud it was also calming in the way that white noise is calming.
Geoffrey, as always you are thoughtful and provoke viewer interest in every post. That said, I try not to think too much about the amazing systems that support all of us living creatures, because I’d rather right brain some of these things so as not to worry about them. I’m awed if I understand the science, and even more if I don’t. There is an Easter Bunny, right? Beautiful image:)
Thanks Elena, I can’t help it (so I say) … it’s the way my mind approaches something … teases it apart … looks for patterns. The Easter Bunny lives next door to Santa and on cold nights they warm each other 😉
I’m so relieved;)
Someone has to 😉
do you, just like me, have troubles sleeping when there is a full moon?
beautiful shots again.
Thank you … I do! And I don’t think it’s just the brightness of the night … I feel as though I’m being pulled (not by the moon’s gravity … well maybe in a subtle way!) outside to visit with other similarly affected ‘moonfolk’ 🙂
Trouble sleeping on a full moon … yes!
As you would guess by now, stuff like this totally fascinates me, Geoff! I do have the Current Moon Phase graphic on my other blog’s sidebar and pay attention to it. Today, August 1, it is 99% full, so you’re right about tomorrow, the day you guest-post at Vision & Verb. 🙂 I love it.
I did NOT know, however, that the full moon always rises at sunset. WOW. Hopefully I’ll never forget that after reading this dekightful post!
No, you’ll never look at the full moon rise in quite the same way again 🙂
Wonderful light, beautiful picture and a just so lovely blue. I also love nights at the sea.
Thinking about it for a moment I cannot say that I follow the moon, sometimes I find myself even looking at the sky surprised to see it’s a full moon again. I guess as a summer child I feel closer to the sun but am also fascinated by the moon and love the time when you can see them both together at the sky. Funny though that last night when I woke up for the second time or so and stumbled around in the house I found myself looking at the almost full moon and wanted to take a picture. I was half asleep, setup up the camera, opened the window and then couldn’t remember which settings I used the last time. Went back to bed without a picture. Sometimes you just have to let it go and there will be another moon. in a few days the Perseids shower is expected to be seen here and I’m curious if I will be able to capture this in any way but will try.
Love the image of you stumbling about half asleep setting up a camera and looking dreamily at the moon before padding back to bed (without taking a single picture!) Perhaps it was a dream 🙂
We don’t see the Perseids down this way … they’re a northern hemisphere thing … I suspect you’ll need to find somewhere darker to really appreciate them. Somewhere grassy, with a blanket to lie down on and a clear view of the sky … a night picnic party perhaps 😉
Haha. No, it wasn’t a dream. I walked around every night though usually I don’t find myself looking at the moon with eyes half closed while fiddling with the camera equipment. Tonight the moon should be full and I hope the clouds that are still covering most of the sky will find another place to play and make some room for da’ moon. Will get ready early today and maybe there is a picture in it.
Your suggestion for the Perseids night sounds lovely and shouldn’t be a problem as I live close to some meadows and farmland. I’ll certainly let you know how it went, still one more week to go till then.
PS: What you said about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny… 🙂
I saw the pictures you took over on your blog … they look fantastic with those pre-dawn clouds who thankfully didn’t go and play elsewhere after all 🙂
I have always been fascinated by the moon, although I don’t follow the lunar faces or cycle. The sparkling moon-lit water in your photograph is enthralling. The combination of long exposure and frozen waves as if the water was photographed with a flash, is fascinating. Gives a very dynamic expression. And the blue cast adds to the feeling of a moon-lit night. Beautiful.
Thank you Otto. Your visits mean a lot. Exposure time was five seconds about an hour after moonrise. I have a portrait version of this scene which shows the moon too … might post it separately 🙂
this picture is incredibly enlighted. i LOVE the moon and all it causes.
Thank you for dropping in … the moon represents so much to us all but mostly we barely even notice it…
I have always thought of the moon as such a beautiful constant in life, and quite magical.
Such a beautiful photograph, for some reason it makes me think of the Dylan Thomas classic ‘Under Milk Wood’.
I am learning a lot from you, Mr. Dunn! 🙂
Under Milk Wood … it certainly does though I hadn’t considered it like that before. Thank you Judith 🙂
We say goodnight to the moon when we remember
I would have no clue where it would be at any given time (except in the sky!)
Do you garden by the moon too?
I have gardened by the moon and had good results. Our vegie garden is neglected and we blame the drought (oh and those ‘bloody chooks’ that find their way in 😉 )
beautiful!
Thanks!
Simple yet so effective you are so good at this Geoffrey.
Very nice of you to say so but I think we can all improve in some way 😉
I would just like to add that I have nominated your blog for an award. For more info please look up my latest post: http://munchow.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/sprinkled-with-awards/
Thanks Otto! I’ll come and check it out. I too have recently received a sprinkling of awards and I need to do a thank you post. Apologies for my delayed response … life here is well, very busy 🙂
Hmmm..never quite thought of it that way before. But – so true. Love the shimmery image of the moonlit water!
You’ll never look at the full moon in quite the same way ever again 🙂
Wundervoll, das Mondlicht, das Blau und die Bewegung des Wasser, wie ein Schleier aus Seide!
Auch ich liebe die Nacht und den Mond, besonders im Winter, wenn das Thermometer im Minusberich liegt. In solchen Nächten leuchten der Mond, die Sterne und die verschneiten Berge. Ich liebe es.
Gruss
Google translate version: Wonderfully, the moonlight, the blue and the movement of water, like a veil of silk!
I also love the night and the moon, especially in winter when the thermometer is in the negative reports. In light of the moon such nights, the stars and the snowy mountains. I love it.
greeting
Thanks Claudia,
I would so love to see snow covered mountains lit by moonlight … I can only imagine how amazing they must look. One day!
Google translate version: Dank Claudia,
Ich würde so gerne schneebedeckten Berge im Mondlicht leuchten sehen … Ich kann mir nur vorstellen, wie toll sie aussehen muss. Eines Tages!
I wanted to photograph the last full moon as it appeared above the trees in our suburb because the skies are so clear at the moment, but it takes a while from sunset for the moon to “rise” higher up in the distant ‘burbs – still haven’t quite got the time calculations right for that (and it’s not much fun hanging about outside in winter :))
I look forward to your moon pics 🙂
There are plenty of lunar calculators which can assist in your calculations 🙂
So fantastic! Beautiful composition: we just see the moonlight, not the full moon. Clever.
Have a nice day.
Thank you.
I’m glade I craned across your chamomile lawns Geoff
Cheers Gav.