Moon Out of Bounds

August 31, 2023

Star Gazer Update

This is a semi-irregular blog on what’s happening in the cosmos.

  • What can be seen?
  • When can you see it?
  • Will it effect you and why?

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Times, dates and visibility are specific for Minneapolis Minnesota USA. If you’re in another location check time and date dot com.

The Moon out of Bounds

To explain how the Moon goes out of bounds we need to get some basic astronomy out of the way. When a planet rises exactly on the equator it is said to be at 0° declination. The Sun and Moon as well as every other planet cross this point at some time in their orbit and when they do they are either at 0° Aries or 0° Libra. The farthest North the Sun travels is a point called the tropic of Cancer (23.5°) which it hits once a year at the Summer solstice. The farthest South the Sun travels is at the tropic of Capricorn (-23.5°) which it hits every year at the Winter Solstice. The Sun never goes past these extreme North and South points but other planets do. When they do it is called out of bounds.

The Moon is right now going out of bounds when it is in Gemini, Cancer, Sagittarius or Capricorn. It is fun to watch it rise and set at extreme points. You may already have been scratching your head saying to yourself, “I didn’t know the Moon could ever be there.” It will continue to go out of bounds for the next 3 years or so and then gradually return to an inbound orb and be fully in bounds by about 2029. It is said that when the Moon goes out of bounds people can feel a bit unsettled or it may stir up your wild side. Travel plans can be disrupted, much like during retrograde cycles. Mood swings and erratic weather patterns become the norm. If you are particularly Moon sensitive, Cancer Sun, Moon or Ascendant in your natal chart, take care during these out of bounds days, ground, nurture.

This handy graph can show you when the Moon goes out of bounds during the month of September. On the dates when the arc goes above the red line the Moon is out of bounds. I also created a chart that highlights in red when it will be visible in Minnesota. Get the free download by subscribing to my blog.