The moon has held a special place in human life since ancient times, and its phases have been used to mark time and plan religious and agricultural events. Thanks to the advancement of technology, we can now add moon phases to our iPhone calendar, which can be useful for tracking moon-related events, astrological purposes, gardening, or simply for appreciating the beauty of nature. However, many people may find it challenging to add moon phases to their iPhone calendar, as it requires some technical know-how. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of adding moon phases to your iPhone calendar in 2022.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Adding Moon Phases to iPhone Calendar
While adding events to the iPhone calendar is a straightforward process, adding moon phases requires some specific steps that may not be immediately apparent. The default Apple calendar app does not offer the option to add moon phases, but there are several workarounds to achieve this. Additionally, there are various sources of moon phase data available online, and choosing the right one can be confusing. However, with some preparation and attention to detail, you can easily add moon phases to your iPhone calendar and enjoy the benefits of lunar cycle tracking.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we dive into the methods of adding moon phases to your iPhone calendar, here are a few things you should prepare for:
1. A reliable internet connection: Since we will use online sources to obtain moon phase data, having a stable internet connection is crucial.
2. A third-party calendar app: While the default Apple calendar app does not support moon phases, there are several third-party apps that do. You can download one of them from the App Store, depending on your preferences.
3. Moon phase data source: There are various sources of moon phase data available online. Some are free, while others require a subscription or payment.
Method 1: Using pre-made moon phase events and iCloud Calendar
This method involves importing pre-made moon phase events into your iCloud calendar. While it may take slightly longer than other methods, it does not require any technical expertise or additional apps. Here are the steps:
1. Open Safari or any other web browser on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the moon phase data source of your choice. One popular option is timeanddate.com.
3. Select the year 2022 and your location (or the location of your choice).
4. Scroll down to the "Moon Phases" section and select "Add to Calendar."
5. A pop-up will appear, asking you to choose a calendar app. Select "iCloud Calendar."
6. Log in to your iCloud account if prompted and select the calendar you wish to add the moon phases to.
7. Wait a few moments for the events to be imported into your calendar.
Pros:
– No additional app or technical knowledge required
– Moon phases are automatically updated
– Can be done quickly and easily
Cons:
– Events may clutter your calendar
– May overwrite existing events in your calendar
Method 2: Using a third-party calendar app
There are several third-party calendar apps available on the App Store that support moon phases. Some popular options include Fantastical, Calendars 5, and Pocket Informant. Here is how you can use Fantastical to add moon phases to your iPhone calendar:
1. Download and install Fantastical from the App Store.
2. Open Fantastical and navigate to the month view.
3. Tap on the gear icon in the bottom left corner.
4. Select "Customize Month."
5. Scroll down to "Visible Calendars" and tap on "Add Calendar."
6. Type in a name for your moon phase calendar and select the "iCal URL" option.
7. Open Safari or any other web browser and navigate to the moon phase data source of your choice. Again, timeanddate.com is a popular option.
8. Select the year 2022 and your location.
9. Scroll down to the "Moon Phases" section and select "iCal."
10. A pop-up will appear, asking you to subscribe to the calendar. Select "Subscribe" and choose "Fantastical."
11. Log in to your iCloud account if prompted and select the moon phase calendar you just created.
12. Wait a few moments for the events to be added to your calendar.
Pros:
– Dedicated moon phase calendar that does not clutter your main calendar
– Can be done with a free or paid third-party app
– Moon phases are automatically updated
Cons:
– Requires downloading and learning a new app
– May require a subscription or payment for some apps
– May not sync with other calendar apps
Method 3: Manually adding moon phases using a .ics file
This method involves manually adding moon phases to your iPhone calendar using a .ics file obtained from a moon phase data source. It requires downloading and using a file manager app and a text editor app but offers more control over the calendar’s appearance. Here are the steps:
1. Download and install a file manager app such as Documents by Readdle from the App Store.
2. Download and install a text editor app such as Textor from the App Store.
3. Open Safari or any other web browser and navigate to the moon phase data source of your choice.
4. Select the year 2022 and your location.
5. Scroll down to the "Moon Phases" section and select "Download .ics file."
6. Open the downloaded .ics file using the Documents app.
7. Tap on the "Share" icon and select "Copy to Textor."
8. Open Textor and paste the contents of the .ics file.
9. Delete all lines that do not begin with "BEGIN" or "END."
10. Replace the first line with "BEGIN:VCALENDAR" and the last line with "END:VCALENDAR."
11. Replace all occurrences of "SUMMARY:" with "DESCRIPTION:" using the "Replace All" function.
12. Save the modified file and exit Textor.
13. Open the Documents app and tap on the modified .ics file.
14. Tap on the share icon and select "Copy to iCloud Drive."
15. Log in to your iCloud account and select the calendar you wish to add the moon phases to.
16. Wait a few moments for the events to be added to your calendar.
Pros:
– Customizable calendar appearance
– No need to subscribe to a calendar or use a third-party app
– Full control over the moon phase data
Cons:
– Requires downloading and using additional apps
– Manual process that may be time-consuming
– No automatic updates for moon phases
Method 4: Using a Shortcut
If you are familiar with iOS shortcuts, you can use a pre-made moon phase shortcut to quickly add lunar events to your iPhone calendar. Here is how:
1. Open Safari or any other web browser and navigate to the moon phase shortcut of your choice. One option is Moon Phases Calendar Shortcut by iGeeksBlog.
2. Tap on the "Get Shortcut" button to download the shortcut.
3. Open the Shortcuts app (pre-installed on most iPhones).
4. Tap on the "Library" tab and select the "Moon Phases" shortcut.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to specify your preferred location and calendar.
6. Tap on the "Play" button to run the shortcut.
7. Wait a few moments for the events to be added to your calendar.
Pros:
– Quick and easy process for experienced shortcut users
– Can be customized based on preferences
– Moon phases are automatically updated
Cons:
– Requires familiarity with iOS shortcuts
– May overwrite existing events in your calendar
– Not all moon phase shortcuts may work reliably
Why Can’t I Add Moon Phases to iPhone Calendar?
If you have tried the methods above and still cannot add moon phases to your iPhone calendar, here are some possible reasons and fixes:
1. Calendar syncing issues: Make sure that your iCloud account is up to date and that calendar syncing is enabled in your device settings.
2. Unsupported calendar app: Not all calendar apps support moon phases, so make sure that you are using a compatible app.
3. Moon phase data source errors: Make sure that you are using accurate and reliable moon phase data sources, as errors or inconsistencies can cause issues.
Additional Tips
Here are a few additional tips to help you add moon phases to your iPhone calendar:
1. Choose a moon phase data source that matches your time zone and location for accurate results.
2. Use a dedicated calendar for moon phases to avoid cluttering your main calendar.
3. Consider using a third-party app or shortcut for a more streamlined process.
5 FAQs
Q: Can I add moon phases to my iPhone calendar for a year other than 2022?
A: Yes, most moon phase data sources allow you to select a range of years for which to generate events. Make sure that you adjust the steps accordingly.
Q: Why are my moon phase events not syncing across my devices?
A: Make sure that calendar syncing is enabled on all your devices and that you are using the same iCloud account.
Q: Can I customize the appearance of moon phase events in my calendar?
A: Yes, some third-party calendar apps allow you to customize the colors, fonts, and icons associated with moon phases.
Q: Are there any privacy concerns with adding moon phase events to my calendar?
A: No, adding moon phase events to your calendar does not expose any personally identifiable information or sensitive data.
Q: Can I share my moon phase calendar with others?
A: Yes, you can share your moon phase calendar with others via iCloud sharing or export it to a standard calendar format.
Conclusion
Adding moon phases to your iPhone calendar can be a fun and useful way to track lunar events, plan gardening tasks, or simply appreciate the natural beauty of the night sky. While it may require some technical know-how, there are several methods available that cater to different levels of expertise and preferences. Whether you choose to import pre-made events, use a third-party app, manually add events, or create a shortcut, the steps outlined in this blog post should help you achieve your goal. Happy moon gazing!