crescent Moon

On the morning of January 1, 2011, I visited Sounion, Greece hoping to celebrate the start of the New Year with a glimpse of the waning, crescent moon rising over the ancient Poseidon TemplePhotographer: Elias Chasiotis

Just before the start of morning twilight, the Moon‘s crooked grin appeared and seemed to strike a balance atop the approximately 2,500 year old temple. The Moon was 26 days old (three days before the new Moon phase) and 11 percent illuminated. If the weather is clear at your location this morning, and you’re up early, see if you can spot the very slender, 27-day old crescent Moon. According to the calendar used prior to Julius Caesar’s reforms, March 1 was the first day of the New Year.

[epod]