☽

☽ U+263D, ☽ FIRST QUARTER MOON ← ☼ [U+263C] Miscellaneous Symbols ☾ → [U+263E]

An 18th-century astronomical pillar in Scotland. The moons of Jupiter and Saturn are designated 1☽, 2☽, 3☽ &c. (leftmost column).

The 1833 US Nautical Almanac uses ☽ for both the first quarter moon phase (left column) and as a generic symbol for the moon of any phase (right column). Elsewhere in the almanac, ☾ is used as the generic symbol for the moon.

Translingual

Alternative forms

• ☾, rarely 🌙︎ (for all senses but [4])

Etymology

The lunar crescent is an ancient symbol for the moon. Its orientation varies between encrescent and decrescent.

Symbol

☽

1. nighttime.
2. (astronomy, astrology) the Moon.

   a subscript to variables in mathematical equations, such as π_☽ (lunar parallax)

   • 1803, Robert Patterson, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, volume 40 (in English), Princeton University Press, published 2013, page 71:

     Suppose the apparent angular distance of the sun & moon's nearest limbs [...] to be 110°.2′.30″ the app. alt of ☉'s lower limb measuring 20°.40′ and that of ☽'s lower limb 35°.24′

3. (astronomy, rare) a natural satellite (see image at right).
4. (astronomy, astrology, rare) the first quarter of the Moon.

   Synonym: 🌓︎

5. (alchemy, archaic) silver.

   Synonym: 🜛

6. (rare) Monday

   Refers to the Latin phrase dies Lunae, which literally means "Moon's day".

Related terms

• (lunar eclipse)
• 🌕︎ 🌑︎

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