Captivating Crescent Moons

From early July to late September, we have been treated to the sight of four full supermoons rising in the east at sunset and with two full supermoons happening in August, much was made of them on the television and radio and in the newspapers. In addition, social media was full of people’s photographs of what were truly magnificent spectacles. However, something that we hear a lot less of is the rising or setting of a crescent moon which, in my opinion, is a far more beautiful and beguiling sight and one that has deep symbolic significance in various cultures and spiritual traditions around the World

Waxing above Orange - Loch Sunart, Resipole, Sunart

​The beauty of a crescent moon is very subjective and is very much down to personal preference, but I do find it particularly captivating when the Moon is visible at sunset or sunrise. This timing allows a crescent moon to appear against the backdrop of the colourful twilight sky and create a striking visual contrast just like it did on the evening when I took this month’s photograph. I was absolutely captivated by the sight of it hanging in the sky just above the hills of Morvern and the orange glow from a setting Sun.

​Additionally, I find the slender, delicate curve of the crescent during these times particularly alluring and to see this sight, you need to look for it in the days either side of a new moon, when the Moon is very close to being positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with its illuminated side facing away from Earth.

​In the 3-4 days before a new moon, the Moon is all but invisible from Earth with only the thin crescent of its illuminated left edge visible to us in the east during the hours around sunrise. This is a waning crescent moon, which gets thinner and thinner each day before completely disappearing on the day of the new moon. We then lose sight of the Moon for a day or two before its illuminated right edge begins to emerge from the shadow of the Earth, way over in the west in the hours around sunset. This means that in the 3-4 days after a new moon, a waxing crescent moon will be visible in the evening, and it will get thicker and thicker as the days pass.

Moon in the Middle - Loch Sunart, Resipole, Sunart

​This captivating and beautiful celestial sight has been historically associated with various myths and cultural beliefs and predominant themes seem to be ones of renewal and transformation. In various religious contexts, a crescent moon holds specific meanings. In some pagan and Wiccan traditions, the crescent moon is considered a symbol of the feminine divine, representing cycles, intuition, and the ever-changing nature of life, while in Hinduism, it is associated with various deities, including Shiva and Parvati and the waxing and waning of the Moon is said to represent the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

However, it is in Islam where the crescent moon perhaps features most prominently and is seen on top of minarets and mosques, and on the flags of many Muslim countries. Representing the beginning of the lunar month, it is used to determine the timing of important Islamic events and holidays, such as Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This month is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community for Muslims worldwide and the crescent moon plays a crucial role at its beginning and end. The sighting of the new crescent moon marks the end of the month of Sha'ban and the beginning of Ramadan, while the sighting of the crescent moon at the end of Ramadan signifies the end of the fasting period and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that marks the end of Ramadan.

Waxing Orange - Loch Sunart, Resipole, Sunart

​Given how captivating the sight of a crescent moon can be, it is perhaps little wonder that it plays a role in several of the World’s cultures and religions, but whatever your beliefs are, it is certainly a sight worth seeing. So, if you are an early riser, look out for it in the east at sunrise on the mornings just before a new moon and if you are a night owl, look for it in the west at sunset a few days later. You won’t be disappointed.