OP ASPECT, ROTATION, AND LIBRATION. 149

long time above the horizon, and is high when in thesouth, like the sun in midsummer. She passes on tofull, when she is again near the equator,—or ratherwhen she is “ full ” in March (which may be earlierthan the date when she is at her first quarter) she isnear the equator where the ecliptic crosses it, or inVirgo. So that the full moon in spring is abouttwelve hours above the horizon, and as high whendue south as the sun in spring. The “ third-quartermoon” in March is, in like manner, nearly in thepart of the ecliptic occupied by the sun in winter, orwhere the ecliptic crosses the equator in Sagittarius.She is therefore but a short time above the horizon,and low down when due south, like the winter sun.And it is easily seen how at intermediate phases sheoccupies intermediate positions.

By similar reasoning, we find that in midsummer—(i) the new moon is in Taurus or Gemini,* and longabove the horizon; (ii) the first-quarter moon is inVirgo, and about twelve hours above the horizon;(iii) the full moon in Sagittarius, and a short timeabove the horizon; (iv) the third-quarter moon inPisces, and about twelve hours above the horizon.In mid-autumn,—(i) the new moon is in Virgo, andabout twelve hours above the horizon; (ii) the first-quarter moon, in Scorpio or Sagittarius, and only ashort time above the horizon; (iii) the full moon inPisces, and about twelve hours above the horizon;

* The reference throughout is to the constellations, not to thesigns.