How to keep a moon observation journal
Short answer: look at the moon at about the same time each evening for one cycle (about 29.5 days), and write down the date, time, shape and where it was in the sky. Mark cloudy nights too. At the end you will have every phase in order.
What to record each night
- Date and time.
- The shape: draw it, or name it (crescent, half, gibbous, full).
- Where it was: low in the west, high in the south, and so on.
- One line of notes: "bright over the river", "hazy".
Tips
Start a few days after new moon, when a thin crescent appears in the west after sunset. After full moon the moon rises later each night, so switch to early mornings or check the rise time first.
Turning it into a sheet
Teachers often ask for a month grid with the moon's shape each night. Keep it in a calendar layout so the pattern from crescent to full and back is easy to see.
An app that keeps the log for you
Moonvane has a moon diary: mark "I saw the moon", add a note, and share a month sheet that shows every night's moon shape with your checks.
FAQ
What if it's cloudy?
Write "cloudy" and the date — a gap is still data. You can look up the moon's shape for that night afterwards.
When is the best time to see the moon?
Evenings in the first half of the cycle (after new moon) and early mornings in the second half. Around new moon it is too close to the Sun to see.
How long should the journal be?
One full cycle — about 29.5 days — shows every phase from new moon back to new moon.