Third Quarter
The third quarter moon occurs when the other half of the Moon is illuminated compared to the first quarter. On the day of third quarter, the Moon rises approximately in the middle of the night and sets in the middle of the day.
Location: Moon is 270 - 315 degrees ahead of the Sun
Last Quarter Moon Phase Explained
What is a last quarter moon? The last quarter moon, sometimes known as the third quarter moon or a half moon, is defined to occur when the excess of the apparent ecliptic (celestial) longitude of the Moon over that of the Sun is 270 degrees. This means that one-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight and the fraction of the Moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing. Each new lunar cycle is measured beginning at each new moon and the last quarter moon occurs when the Moon is three-quarters of the way around the sky (i.e., along its orbit) from new moon.
2023 Third Quarter Calendar
| Date | Time | Day | Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 15 | 02:13 AM | Sunday |  Libra |
| February 13 | 04:03 PM | Monday |  Scorpio |
| March 15 | 02:10 AM | Wednesday |  Sagittarius |
| April 13 | 09:12 AM | Thursday |  Capricorn |
| May 12 | 02:29 PM | Friday |  Aquarius |
| June 10 | 07:32 PM | Saturday |  Pisces |
| July 10 | 01:49 AM | Monday |  Aries |
| August 8 | 10:29 AM | Tuesday |  Taurus |
| September 6 | 10:22 PM | Wednesday |  Gemini |
| October 6 | 01:49 PM | Friday |  Cancer |
| November 5 | 08:38 AM | Sunday |  Leo |
| December 5 | 05:51 AM | Tuesday |  Virgo |
Positive activities
Release of any negativity, not just banishing it but consciously letting go of it. Continuing any banishing done during the last phase. The third quarter, Full Moon through Last Quarter, ideally brings illumination to the influences of the entire lunar cycle. The fourth quarter, called the "Last Quarter", is from the Moon square Sun aspect through the next New Moon. It can bring a crisis in consciousness. This cycle’s experiences have culminated and one must now prepare for rebirth.
