Greetings Physics Wizzes: Find New Moon Apex Time Tonight

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the time at which the new moon reaches its apex, specifically focusing on the concept of "apex" in relation to the moon's transit across the night sky. The conversation includes clarifications about terminology and the relationship between the new moon and solar transit times.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in finding the time of the new moon's apex, expressing a lack of knowledge on the topic.
  • Another participant questions the term "apex," seeking clarification on its meaning.
  • A participant suggests that the apex refers to the highest point of the moon's transit across the night sky.
  • It is proposed that during a new moon, the moon is close to the sun and will transit the meridian around local noon, although this timing may vary by location.
  • A link is provided to a resource that allows users to find local transit times for celestial bodies based on date and location.
  • Further clarification is given that transiting the meridian means the moon is at its highest altitude in its path across the sky.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the relationship between the new moon and its transit time relative to the sun, but there is no explicit consensus on the exact timing for different locations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address specific local times for the new moon's apex, and the timing may depend on individual geographic locations.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in lunar phases, astronomy enthusiasts, and those seeking to understand celestial navigation may find this discussion relevant.

skywise
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Greetings physics wizzes!

I am trying to find out what time the new moon reaches it's apex tonight. This is probably the most elementary task but I'm fairly clueless when it comes to this stuff.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
 
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What's an "apex?"

- Warren
 
I'm under the impression that this is the highest point of the moon's transit across the night sky.
 
If it's a new moon then it will be close to the sun and will transit the meridian around noon (local time). Of course, the exact time of the new moon doesn't coincide with everyone's local noon time.

Here's a link to a site which let's you enter the date and your location and will return local sunset/sunrise/transit and moonset/rise/transit.

Transit in this case refers to when the object in question transits the meridian.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/aa_pap.pl
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I should add that when an object transits the meridian (the line drawn across the sky from north to south), it is at its highest altitude in its path across the sky.
 
Thanks Jimmy,
Okay, so that makes sense.. that being the new moon it would be very near the sun so when the sun is at it's highest it would serve to figure that ...sheesh. That should have occurred to me.
Thanks for the link.. very handy.
 
You're welcome. :smile:
 

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