... This third quarter Moon (left) and first quarter Moon were both photographed during the last lunar cycle or lunation with the same telescope and camera. ... In fact, on October 6th the Moon's third quarter phase happened to occur near lunar apogee , the farthest point in the Moon's orbit . On September 21st, the first quarter phase fell close to lunar perigee , the Moon's closest approach to planet Earth. ... October . ... Publications with keywords: apogee - perigee - lunation - Moon . ...