Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Phases of the Moon

The reason many religious observances fall on different dates from year to year is because they are calculated based on a lunar calendar.

The beginning of Ramadan this year for the Islamic world was the new moon of March, 2023. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal (spring) equinox. Passover is observed on the first night of a full moon after the vernal equinox.

The moon appears a different times to different parts of the world. Seeing the first light of the moon to start one's fasting in Saudi Arabia, is different from seeing that first phase in the United States, thus differing start times around the world.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson.

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