What key role does the moon play in our universe?
915457
The Moon does not play a key role in the universe.  In terms of the universe, the moon is not even noticeable.  It does not play a key role in our galaxy.  It does not play a key role in our solar system.  However, the Moon does have some profound effects upon Earth.\n\n1) Earth's oceans would have tides even if we did not have a moon.  The Sun is large enough that its gravity would create tides.  Oddly enough, the moon tides and sun tides are of almost equal size.  The Sun's gravity is more powerful than the Moon's gravity.  But the Sun is much farther so it balances out.  When the Moon and Sun are on the same side of Earth, the tides are much stronger.\n\n2) Most of the time, the Moon lights the night sky.  Without this light, it is doubtful that any of the nocturnal species would be nocturnal.  It is certain that the moonlight affected the course of evolution on Earth.
281935
The Moon is the most important heavenly body to witches. We draw on her power for lunar magic. We cast our spells in accord with her cycles. She inspires and illuminates us. There are moon gods, but the Moon has always been perceived as female. The Moon is cyclical, like women. We menstruate with her. She mirrors the stages of our lives: Maiden and Mother and Crone. She is Changing Woman, as are we.\n\nAs the Wheel of the Moon continues on its never ending course, the moon also travels through the different astrological signs, just as the sun does, only more rapidly. When the moon resides within the various signs, that sign influences the magickal aspect of the moon.\n\n= EARTH = \nspells should be preformed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.\n\n= AIR = \nspells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.\n\n= FIRE = \nspells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.\n\n= WATER = \nspells should be performed when the moon is in one of the astrological signs governed by that element: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. \n\n= Moon Phase Correspondences for Magickal Workings =\n\n= New Moon Magick =\n\nNew Moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting. \n\n= Waxing Moon Magick =\n\nFrom seven to fourteen days after the new moon. The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or health.\n\n= Full Moon Magick =\n\nFrom fourteen to seventeen-and-a-half days after the new moon. Prime time for rituals for prophecy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healing for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.\n\n= Waning Moon Magick =\n\nFrom three-and-a-half to ten-and-a-half days after the full moon. The waning moon is used for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity.\n\n= Dark Moon Magick =\n\nFrom ten-and-a-half to fourteen days after the full moon. The dark moon is a time for ridding oneself of bad habits, Binding spells, for exploring our darkest recesses and understanding our angers and passions. Also bringing justice to bear.\n\nWhen the Moon is void-of-course, it means the energy is somewhat in limbo, making no aspects before leaving the sign it occupies. It can indicate aimless endeavour or lack of purpose, and agreements and purchases made may need to be rethought once the Moon enters the next sign. Best to wait until then to move forward on anything that requires decisive action; \nimmersing yourself in soul exploration and meditation are positive uses of your energy during this period. Regroup yourself mentally and spiritually to prepare for the Moon entering the next sign.\n\nSunday:\nRuled by the Sun. Power magick, Health, Prosperity, & Exorcism. \n\nMonday:\nRuled by the Moon. Intuition, Dreams, Psychic Ability, & Female Fertility. \n\nTuesday:\nRuled by Mars. Courage, Energy, Breaking Negativity, & Physical Strength. \n\nWednesday:\nRuled by Mercury. Divination, Communications, Knowledge, & Wisdom. \n\nThursday:\nRuled by Jupiter. Happiness, Luck, Wealth, Healing, Male Fertility, & Legal Matters. \n\nFriday:\nRuled by Venus. Love, Sexual Matters, Marriage, & Friendship. \n\nSaturday:\nRuled by Saturn. Psychic Ability, Meditation, Defence, Communicating with Spirits. \n\n\n\nFor Wiccans, the most powerful source of energy is the Moon. In magick, the position and phase of the Moon is considered to be one of the deciding factors in when to celebrate, or when to use magick.\n\nMain Lunar Cycles: \n\nWaxing Moon (When the moon is on the increase, going from a small crescent [new
473429
Because the moon reflects light from the sun.
503710
no moon occurs when moon is covered by the shadow of earth,\nsimilarly on full moon moon is not covered by the shodow. all the phases of moon are caused by the shadow of earth which falls on moon bcoz of sun
723622
The phases of the moon are the same around the world. What varies is the rise and set time. The US Naval Observatory is a great site for this.
79404
Very cool question.\n\nThe moon circles the earth about once a month.\n\nSo roughly every two weeks the moon is somewhere in the sky on the lighted side of the earth -- the side facing the sun.\n\nNow depending where you are standing on the earth, when the moon is in the daylight sky, you may be able to see it. \n\nIt depends on your local geography, for instance if you live in a deep valley, your view of the sky is smaller and you are less likely to see the moon and the sun at the same time.\n\nIt also depends on how close to the sun the moon appears in the sky and on the time of day.\n\nYou can use the automatic sky chart in the links below and see when the moon and sun are in the sky together.\n\nIn some cases even if the sky is too bright to see the moon, you can use a telescope or binoculars to see it. Be VERY careful not to aim at the sun, or you could seriously damage your vision.\n\nHappy moon watching!
846251
The moon has a 28-day orbit around the earth so naturally there is a part of that cycle when it will be on the same side of the earth as the sun. Note though that you cannot have a full moon in the sky during the day since a full moon means that the earth, sun and moon all line up. You can have a new moon in the sky during the day since the moon is then between us and the sun and all we see is the dark side.
415678
The name of our planet is the Earth. The name of our moon is the Moon. The name of our solar system is the Solar System. \n\nNotice that I capitalize them, because when used as names, they are proper nouns. This also helps us distinguish between the planet Earth and earth (meaning soil), between the Earth's Moon and moon (meaning the natural satellite of a planet), and between our Solar System and any other solar systems (since any system containing a star and a planet or a planet-forming disk can be called a solar system.) \n\nThis is the usage approved by the International Astronomical Union, the body in charge of naming celestial objects. It may seem odd that these important objects don't have names, but if you think about it, it just reinforces their importance. For example, the Moon is the Moon, not just any moon. It requires no other name, because it's the most important moon! \n\nYou may read or hear people using Luna for the Moon, or Terra or Gaia for the Earth, or Sol for the Sun, but these are poetic terms, often seen in science fiction stories, but not used by astronomers in scientific writing.
875688
We don't have to explain it. Most stars are multiple, some are not. \nBy good fortune, we have a single star system which means we can have a solar system and stable orbits. The tidal forces would have been too strong from a multiple star system for planets to form. The single star system also allows for moons around the planets. Without our moon we probably would not have life on Earth in the first place, among other things.
373357
When one looks at the beautiful face of the Moon, one can see the glory of the reflected sunlight without the pain of looking directly at it.  Given the moon's phases, it is obvious for both these reasons that the moon is considered a goddess.  That does not go against the worship of the Sun God, but rather enhances it.  The moon could be seen to be worshiping the Sun God herself, when she shines out with his light for all to see, like a priestess reflecting the grandeur of the priest.
140176
The Sun, Earth, and Moon are all gravitationally tied together. In other words, the interaction of their individual gravitational fields closely relates one to the other. The Earth/Moon system moves around the Sun in a particular orbit. Should the Sun somehow disappear, the movement of the Earth/Moon system would be radically altered. Even the Sun, the largest mass of the three objects, has its movement through space influenced by the gravity of the Earth and Moon. If we could view our Sun from several light years away, we'd notice that it moves through space not in a straight line, but instead a wavy line as the Earth/Moon system tugs at it.
439809
The moon is basically a great big lump of dull coloured rock that floats around quarter of a million miles from us.  Just like earth, it's illuminated by the sun so what you're seeing is reflected sunlight.\n\nIt can appear as different colours due to the atmosphere here on earth.\n\nWhen the moon is up in the sky you're looking at it through a thin layer of atmosphere but when it's low on the horizon you're looking through a greater amount of atmosphere.\n\nThe way that our atmosphere breaks up sunlight into differnt colours (Rayleigh Scattering) affects the colour that the moon appears to be.  So too can particles in the atmosphere - particularly dust and volcanic ash which often gives it a reddish tinge.
30684
Yes - the moon is far away, and the earth spins around it's own axis, creating day and night time. The moon would move a little 1/56 of phase shift during the half day it would take for the other half of earth to see the moon, but it's not noticeable.
504771
1.) The Earth and moon formed together at the birth of the solar system.\n\n2.) So-called "fission" theory; the moon just sort of randomly split off from the Earth over their history.\n\n3.) The Earth's gravity captured it as it passed through from somewhere else.\n\n& last, the theory most astronomers today support:\n\n4.) A large object collided with the Earth in its early times, sending debris flying into space, which would eventually coalesce to form the moon.
969774
Think of it this way.  The earth has 4 sides, just because ONE OF THEM is looking at the moon and the Sun is facing another side, means nothing.  There is over 90,000,000 miles between the earth and the sun, so we only get a fraction of a percent of its total output of energy.  The Moon while it is in space going around us, is no longer "blocked" by the earth and can now receive its share of light from the sun.  HOWEVER, you may be surprised to learn that the albedo (reflection of light) from the moon is mostly caused by the Earth as much as the Sun.  That is, where it is now daylight on Earth is relecting off of the moon also.
22400
Yes, our moon orbits our planet, and together they orbit our sun.  Also, our solar system orbits the center of our galaxy.
708252
If you watch a lunar eclipse, you can see the Moon entering the shadow of the Earth, which is a circle on the sky.  If they could figure out the phases of the Moon and the reason for it, they could figure out that the Earth was round.