The Last Quarter, also known as the Third Quarter, is a primary Moon phase along with the New Moon, the Full Moon, and the First Quarter.
It is also known as the Half Moon because, in this phase, half of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun. Depending on where you are on Earth, you either see the right half or the left half. It is also the last of the primary Moon phases.
Let's find out how this phase occurs, and when we can see it, how it affects us, and what it symbolizes.
What is the Last Quarter phase?
The Last or Third Quarter is when we can see half of the illuminated part and half of the Moon's shadow part. This is why generally, this phase is known as Half Moon. We can only see half and half because the Moon is at a 90-degree angle concerning the Earth and Sun.
From this point, the illumination decreases from 50% to 1% (the New Moon). The Third Quarter is the last major Moon phase.
What's After the Last Quarter?
The Last Quarter is the last primary phase of the lunar month. The next significant phase of the Moon is the New Moon.
When the Sun, Moon, and the Earth are aligned, and the Sun illuminates only the part of the Moon we cannot see, we call it a New Moon. The visibility of the Moon can reach a minimum of 1%.
What does the Last Quarter phase symbolize?
Each of the Moon's phases influences animals, people, and the Earth. From ancient times we studied the impact the Moon has upon us.
The Third Quarter phase represents the end of the Moon's journey. For us, it means the final stage or the stage when we complete our work or when our wishes seeded under the New Moon bloom.
It is time to let go, relax, empty your mind and soul, and make space for new adventures, plans, and ideas. It is the perfect moment to reflect on what you learned this month, how much you grew, and what you want to accomplish next.
The Last Quarter Calendar for 2020
If you ever wondered when you could see the Last Quarter phase of the Moon in 2020, here is the list with the dates:
- January: From the 16th until the 18 with visibility between 62% and 40%
- February: From the 15th until the 16th with the visibility between 56% and 44%
- March: From the 15th until the 17 with the visibility between 60% and 39%
- April: From the 13th until the 16th, with maximum visibility of 66% on the 13th and minimum of 35% on the 16th.
- May: From the 13th until the 15th, with the maximum illumination at 61% on the 13th and the minimum of 42% on the 15th.
- June: From the 12th until the 14th, with maximum visibility of 58% and a minimum of 39%
- July: From the 11th until the 13th, with minimum visibility at 46% and maximum at 64%
- August: From the 10th until the 12th, with maximum visibility at 62% and a minimum at 43%
- September: From the 9th until the 11th with the maximum of illumination of 59%.
- October: From the 8th until the 11th, with the peak of visibility at 66% and the minimum at 35%
- November: From the 7th until the 9th, with maximum visibility of 62%
- December: On the 7th and the 8th, with a minimum of illumination at 45% and the maximum at 56%.
The Last Quarter Calendar for 2021
All the phases of the Moon happen every month. Are you curious about when you can gaze at the Last Quarter phase in 2021? Check out the list of dates below:
- January: From the 5th until the 7th, with visibility between 61% to 38%.
- February: From the 3rd until the 5th, with the maximum of illumination at 65% and a minimum at 42%
- March: On the 5th and the 6th with visibility between 57% and 46%.
- April: From the 3rd until the 5th, with maximum visibility of 61%
- May: From the 2nd until the 4th, with visibility between 65% to 43%
- June: From the 1st until the 3rd, and on the last day of the month, with visibility between 64% and 39%.
- July: From the 1st until the 3rd, and on the last two days of the month, with maximum visibility at 61%.
- August: On the 1st day and from the 29th until the 31st, with a maximum of illumination at 58%
- September: From the 27th until the 30th, with visibility between 65% to 37%.
- October: From the 27th until the 29th, with maximum visibility of 63%.
- November: From the 26th until the 28th, with a 61% maximum visibility.
- December: From the 26th until the 28th, with the peak of illumination at 57%.
Moon phases
The New Moon occurs when the Earth, Moon, and the Sun are aligned with the Moon in the middle. So, the Sun illuminates half of the Moon we cannot see.
The Full Moon - The Moon, Earth, and Sun are almost aligned, but the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth so that we can see the entire sunlit part of it.