NASA’s DIY Moon Calendar Shows the Moon Phase on Any Day of the Year

NASA Moon Calculator and Calendar

Ever wonder when the next supermoon or lunar eclipse will be taking place? Whether you’re an astrophotographer or simply an astronomy lover, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has made it easy to discover the phases of the moon with a clever DIY project. Their Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator is a fun project that only requires a printer, scissors, a hole punch, some tape, and a brass fastener to complete.

Once assembled, you just spin the wheel to any given date in 2018 and it will show the phase of the moon—in the Northern Hemisphere. And it gets even better. You can use the handy calculator to see what time of day (in the Pacific Time Zone) a particular moon phase is occurring depending on the direction you are facing, allowing you to plan your moon watching perfectly.

You can download the printable worksheet from NASA and get started, following the steps below. And if you want to learn more about the moon, check out NASA’s page dedicated to the Moon and the people who have landed on it.

Update: NASA’s Moon Phases Calendar has been revised for 2019!

NASA’s Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator helps you discover when you can see the phases of the moon in the Northern Hemisphere on any given day.

Print out the worksheet from NASA, which includes a calendar wheel, moon phases wheel, and viewing wheel.

NASA DIY Moon Calculator and Calendar

Shade in the different moon phases with a pencil.

NASA DIY Moon Calculator and Calendar

Cut out the different wheels along the lines as indicated.

NASA DIY Moon Calculator and Calendar

Attach the moonrise and moonset panels to the viewing wheel with tape.

NASA Moon Calculator and Calendar

Punch a hole in the center and assemble the wheels, fixing them together with a brass fastener.

NASA Moon Calculator and CalendarNASA Moon Calculator and Calendar

Spin the wheel to any given date and match it with the moon phase wheel to see approximately what time of day you can see your favorite moon phase.

NASA DIY Moon Calculator and CalendarJet Propulsion Laboratory: Website 

All images via NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This article has been edited and updated.

Related Articles:

Ceramic Glasses Reveal the Different Phases of the Moon as You Drink

Beautiful Moon Phases Calendar

Stunning Composite Image of the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

Related Posts

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recent Stories