I missed the moon tonight. I searched the sky around my apartment building and could see nothing. I walked to the mailbox where the buildings are spaced apart, and there is more open space for viewing. Nothing. I walked near the car garages to view behind the apartment toward the street. Again, nothing. Finally, I concluded that the moon had not reached a height in the sky that I could view over the tall apartment buildings (I live in the center of the apartment system). Although, the sky was very cloudy, so it might be possible that the moon was out but hidden behind the clouds. Upon further research, I discovered that the reason I could not find the moon was that it was a New Moon. The moon disappeared from sight due to the glare of the Sun. 

2-24-20

Houston, TX

9:15pm

New Moon

0.7% illumination

It was cold tonight, and I was not dressed appropriately for being outside searching for the moon, but I pressed on. Again, I searched in the open space near the mailbox and near the car garage area. The skies were clear today (unlike the last time I searched for the moon). After some searching, I gave up. 

2-27-20

Houston, TX

9:10pm

Waxing Crescent

13% illumination

Today, I did not go outside with the intention of looking for the moon for this project. I was taking my dog outside for her nightly restroom break and happened to look at the sky. To my amazement, I saw the moon! I was so excited to see the moon; I even did a moon dance! I was surprised to see that it was only 28% illuminated because it seemed fairly bright in the sky. It was shaped like a crescent. However, in my phone camera, it appeared as though it was a full moon, so I decided not to take a picture. 

2-29-20

Houston, TX

8:59 pm

Waxing Crescent

28% illumination

I was so excited yesterday about seeing the moon that I went outside again today to look for it. It was so bright yesterday that I was hoping it would be visible again, and it was! It looked about the same as it did yesterday, but it was a bit larger. It looks like it is working its way to a half moon. It was rainy today and the sky seemed foggy and full of clouds. They hid the moon slightly, but it was still very visible. I don’t recall ever paying much attention to the moon before. Even after this project is completed, I think I will still look for the moon. I have found a new appreciation for it. 

3-1-20

Houston, TX

8:00 pm

First Quarter

43% illumination

Since I began looking for the moon, I either could not see it at all or it was very bright and obvious in the sky. Today was the first day that it seemed hidden yet not invisible. The sky was very foggy and the clouds were heavy and dark. The moon was completely covered, but its light slightly crept through the darkness of the clouds. It was just bright enough for me to see the shape of the light. I could see that it was a wide crescent shape. Although it was somewhat hidden, it had a mysterious beauty about it.

3-3-20

Houston, TX

8:30 pm

First Quarter

61% illumination

Nearly every time I have seen the moon from my apartment, it has been above the area where we receive our mail. So, naturally, I headed in that direction tonight as I took my dog out to use the restroom. I looked and did not see anything. I told my husband, Ty, that it probably just could not be seen. I was sad, but not surprised since I had come outside plenty of times before and saw nothing. Instead of following me back towards our apartment, Ty was determined to see the moon. He searched the sky and shouted, “There it is! Look! You can barely see it.” Sure enough, it was there! There was a faint glow in the sky. We stood and stared for a moment. There was a break in the clouds and we were able to make out the shape of it. It did not look like a full moon quite yet, but it appeared close to it. 

3-4-20

Houston, TX

8:14 pm

Waxing Gibbous

73% illumination

I was outside walking my dog (as I always do) when I noticed the moon. It was the first full moon I had seen since the start of the project. It was nice, round, and bright! The clouds surrounded the moon entirely, but they did not cover it. It seemed as though there was a hole in the clouds creating just enough room for the moon to sit in the open space. The clouds appeared to be still. Unlike passing in front of the moon like they had in previous sightings, they did not budge. It was almost as if time had frozen around the moon. 

3-9-20

Houston TX

9:00 pm

Full moon

99% illumination