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With all the randomness in the universe, and our cute, little solar system, it’s a wonder that we can predict the moon phases with such accuracy. But we’re so good at it (and by “we” I mean earthlings) that we name the phases. And we know when they’re gonna happen. And we even know the best places to view them.Nothing short of miraculous.
Because moon phases shouldn’t even exist.
Well, not with regularity anyway. But here we are. About to enjoy another Buck Supermoon. (Is it just me, or does that sound like the name for a Saturday morning cartoon hero?) Yep, a Supermoon that occurs right around the time the antlers on buck deer are growing. That’s a phase you can hang your hat on.
Anyway…
There’s supposed to be a Buck Moon in full view tonight. July 2, 2023 as I write this. And it’s this year’s first supermoon. Depending on how you do the timing, it’s anywhere from this evening to tomorrow morning.
But, as I said, we can actually pinpoint the moon phases with such accuracy it’s nothing short of uncanny in this random existence in which we find ourselves. Check out this description from a science website:
“The Earth-facing side of the moon will be fully lit by the sun at 6:40 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 3, but it will be best viewed at moonrise the previous evening as it appears in the southeastern sky. It will be in the constellation Sagittarius, and will appear bright and full on the nights of July 2 and 4 as well.”
See what I mean?
Like how astronomers know that every month, in the moon’s elliptical orbit of Earth, it has a point of perigee and a point of apogee. Just a fancy way of saying when it’s closest to Earth and when it’s farthest away from Earth. And they know the distance between those points ranges from 225,800 to 251,800 miles. So, knowing all that, they can tell you when supermoons will happen.
By the way, the Buck Supermoon, this month, is gonna be the smallest one this year. So, if you really wanna be impressed, stick around for the two supermoons in August and one in September.
I get goosebumps just thinkin’ about all the miracles of moon phases.
In case you can’t tell, or you don’t know me, NO, I don’t get goosebumps because of the miracles of moon phases. Because there aren’t any such miracles. But I AM thrilled to know how dependable those phases are. And how dependable the rest of our cozy solar system is.
Because that dependability points to a designed system. Not a result of randomness. No, randomness could never, in trillions of years (much less a few billion) have created the precision we can observe. So, when I look up at a moon that looks bigger than usual, I think about Who put it there.
And it reminds me of these words: “Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” (You can find that in the very first paragraphs of the Bible.)
That was the fourth day of creation.
Which was a 24 hours day, by the way. Not potential eons of time. And that’s a rabbit trail that leads me to a book for kids that talks about the very first six days. Matter of fact, it’s called The Very First 6 Days. What a colossal coincidence. Here’s a clip, from the book, about the very first day…
Before there were created things
Like water and fresh air…
No world or human beings
Were existing anywhere.
Then God created earth and sea
And all the heavens too.
There was no sun, no moon, no stars,
And only God shone through.
He looked down at the waters
And the dark face of the deep.
The earth was still and quiet
Just as we are when we sleep.
He said, “Let there be light”
The way a perfect, true God could.
And then He saw the brand new light
And knew that it was good.
Then God divided light and dark,
And darkness He called Night.
The light would be called Day,
And it was pleasing in His sight.
That evening and that morning
Wouldn’t be the total sum…
No, that was just the very first day…
Five were yet to come.
Get the rest of the book on Amazon. Digital download or paperback.
Stay tuned,
