THE MOON January and February 2023

Looking out of the window on the  morning of January 7th, at 6. 30 I saw the moon shining brightly above the trees. It was still dark outside, but the moon inspired me to take a few pictures, something I have never had the inclination to do before, and I really don't know why, because it is the Earth's closest astronomical body, and so very important to us, as the moon influences life as we know it on earth.seeing as it makes the earth move, as well as the tides, and it's the brightest night object in the sky. The moon has inspired poets and lyricists to write beautiful poems and songs, and over century's it has been admired and worshipped, and now it's my turn to pay it homage with a few images because without it, humanity would struggle to survive.

January's moon is called the Wolf Moon. 

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The Wolf Moon, is the name that was given to the January moon by Medieval Europeans and Native Americans  as it is the time of year when wolves howl their loudest. This folklore has inseparably linked wolves with the moon, and to some extent it is true that wolves howl at the moon, but this is because wolves are nocturnal 

and they tend to howl upwards towards the sky to make the sound carry, but there is no scientific evidence that wolves howl more at a full moon, than any other moon. This photo was taken just an hour after my first attempt.

Folklore is a fascinating subject, but there is usually a logical explanation, as in this case. Wolves make more noise in January and February, as this is their breeding season, in both Europe and North America. Many of you will already know this, but this post is for those of you who don't.

TheWaxing Cresent Moon.Photo taken 24th of January.

The concept of moonlight, is nothing  but sunlight reflecting off the moons surface The Moon doesn't produce it's own light. The sun is actually the only source of light in the solar system. The Moon is Earths natural satellite. Moons are called natural Satellites because they orbit planets.

The moon is not only visible during the night, we can see it during the day. I very often see both the sun and the moon in the sky.The only phases that cannot be seen in the day, are the new moon, and the full moon.

February's first  "Snow Moon" of the year lit up the sky with it's brightness.

Photos taken on February 6th, This image was taken half hour after the one above. February's Full Moon is called the Snow Moon because February is associated with more snowfall. It's distance from Earth makes it a "micromoon" and the smallest full moon of 2023. It's an astrological term for the moon (New Moon or Full Moon) when it is the furthest away from Earth.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what would happen without the moon? Think about it, and let me know what you think would happen and in doing so perhaps you will also gain a new respect for what it means to our planet.