Q. When does the Man of the Moon most resemble George Washington? A. At "quarter" phase. The moon reaches first quarter on Saturday, August 18. This week, watch as the moon puffs out, in its waxing… ...

The moon at first quarter can be likened to the capital letter "D," a half circle, with its straight side on the left. This assumes you’re looking from the northern hemisphere.

The Moon offers lots of visual treats when viewed through a telescope —­ even a small one. With that in mind, let’s focus on First Quarter.

The name "first quarter" may initially sound confusing as the moon is half illuminated, but what the term actually refers to is the fact that it is a quarter of the way through its 29.5-day cycle.

The moon at first quarter can be likened to the capital letter "D," a half circle, with its straight side on the left. This assumes you’re looking from the northern hemisphere.