Display Lunar Moon Phases on Google Calendar for Easy Tracking

Adding lunar or moon phases to your Google Calendar can be a useful feature for tracking celestial events and planning activities around them. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it efficiently.

Adding Lunar Phases on Desktop

To add lunar phases to your Google Calendar on a desktop, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Calendar: Sign in to your Google account and open Google Calendar in your preferred browser.
2. Access Settings: Click the cog-shaped icon in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
3. Add Calendar: In the left-hand pane, click “Add calendar” and then select “Browse calendars of interest.”
4. Find Lunar Phases: Scroll down to the “Other” section and check the box next to “Phases of the Moon.”
5. Return to Calendar: Go back to your main calendar view, and you should now see the moon phase information added.

Customizing the Lunar Calendar

Once you have added the lunar phases, you can customize how they appear in your calendar:

1. Color-Coding: Hover over the moon calendar under “Other calendars” in the left sidebar, click the three dots that appear, and select a color from the palette to make the moon phase entries more distinguishable.
2. Rename the Calendar: From the same pop-up menu, you can also change the name of the moon phase calendar to something more personalized.

Viewing Lunar Phases on Mobile Devices

Unfortunately, the Google Calendar mobile app does not display lunar phases even if you have enabled them on your desktop. However, there are workarounds to view this information on your mobile device:

Using Mobile Browser

1. Open Mobile Browser: Open your mobile browser (e.g., Chrome) and search for “Google Calendar.”
2. Avoid Redirecting to App: On Android, long-press the first result to open a menu and select “Open in Incognito tab” to avoid being redirected to the Google Calendar app.
3. Log In: Log in with the same Google account you used on your desktop.
4. Switch to Desktop View: Tap on “Desktop” at the bottom of the screen to change the viewing mode. On iPhone, select “Request Desktop Website” to view the full desktop version of Google Calendar.

Using Third-Party Apps

If you prefer not to use the browser workaround, you can install third-party apps that display moon phases:

1. Install App: Download and install apps like My Moon Phase (Android | iOS), Phases of the Moon (Android), or The Moon: Calendar Moon Phases (iOS).
2. Note on Integration: Keep in mind that these apps will not integrate with your other Google Calendar events and reminders, so you will still need to use Google Calendar for those.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Lunar Phases Not Showing on Mobile Devices

If you have enabled lunar phases on your desktop but they are not showing on your mobile devices, ensure that:

1. Calendar Settings: The lunar calendar is selected in the “Other calendars” section on your mobile device.
2. Browser Workaround: Use the mobile browser workaround described above to view the full desktop version of Google Calendar.

Ensuring Consistency Across Devices

To ensure that the lunar phases appear consistently across all your devices:

1. Sync Settings: Make sure your Google account is properly synced across all devices.
2. Check Calendar Settings: Verify that the “Phases of the Moon” calendar is enabled and visible in the “Other calendars” section on each device.

By following these steps, you can efficiently add and view lunar phases in your Google Calendar, both on desktop and mobile devices, enhancing your ability to track celestial events seamlessly.