O December lunar cycle begins this Sunday (1st) with the end of November’s Waning Moon and the arrival of the New Moon. The change takes place at 3:21 am (Brasília time). Check out the moon phase calendar for the month below.
How does the lunar cycle work?
The lunar cycle is the period during which the Moon passes to complete a series of phases, which range from New Moon to reaching it again.
This cycle is known as the lunar month or synodic month and has an average duration of approximately 29.5 days.
What does each phase of the moon look like?
In this phase, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. It is facing the Sun, making it practically invisible. But it is possible to observe its presence in the sky during the day.
As the Moon moves away from the Sun, a thin illuminated slice begins to appear, forming a crescent. That’s why it’s called the Quarter of the Crescent Moon, as it is more visible than before.
At this stage, the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in relation to the Earth. Yours is fully visible.
The passage of the Full Moon is the brightest phase — and when it is possible to see this celestial body completely illuminated in the night sky.
As the Moon continues to “shrink in size,” only a thin illuminated slice remains visible before the Moon disappears completely from Earth’s view, restarting the cycle with a New Moon.
See the lunar cycle calendar for December 2024
- New Moon: December 1st, at 3:21 am;
- Crescent Moon: December 8th, at 12:26 pm;
- Full Moon: December 15th, at 6:28 pm;
- Waning Moon: 22 December, at 7:18 pm; and
- New moon: December 30th, at 7:26 pm.
