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NewMoons - Find When New Moons are Visible

The program generates tables which list the first opportunities for an observer to witness new moon crescents. The observer may be anywhere on Earth, and the date of observation may be any time between 4001 BC and 8000 AD.

Many ancient and modern calendars are based upon the cycle of the moon as it revolves around the earth. Typically, both the beginning of the calendar's year and the beginning of each individual month is based upon the moon achieving a predetermined position or visible appearance. Examples of ancient calendars which are based upon the moon are the Chinese, Babylonian, Moslem and Hebrew calendars.

The new moon crescent event occurs as the result of the moon achieving conjunction with the sun, and then having enough time to progress around the Earth so that the angle between it and the Sun becomes great enough to cause a sufficient amount of light to be reflected, forming a thin crescent shape to an observer on the earth. Because the new moon crescent occurs when the moon is very close to the Sun's line of sight, the event can only be observed in the evening after sunset.

A new moon crescent may be sighted once the sky becomes dark enough for the moon's thin light to penetrate the lingering brightness of the sunset. However, this penetration of faint light must take place before the moon also sets behind the horizon.

The tables generated by this program are for the specific purpose of providing enough information so that a "best guess" may be made as to when new moon crescents can be or could have been observed. The program also allows planning to observe new moons, a real challenge for very "young" moons.

IBM & compatibles, DOS or Windows (using DOS prompt). $29.95