An Eorzean Timeline.

[Myranda]

So why would the moons and years go from light to dark but the eras go from dark to light...??? I know this may seem trivial but does seem a bit confusing...even after reading the op from the other thread even the op was a bit confused before he just accepted and wrote the timeline.

I think you've just summed up the situation. There's no official clarification as to why this is so, and we've all just flipped the table and have gone into "deal with it" mode.

[Obsy]

[...]we've all just flipped the table and have gone into "deal with it" mode.

That's pretty much my logic. At least with the Astra/Umbral confusion.

I'm likely to believe that as far as eras go (which are obviously the over-arching theme when it comes to timeline stuff) it's far more romantic--even biblical--to have light emerge from the darkness. Why that doesn't apply to moon phases? My guess is because each one is short term, it seems more natural as a time-keeping mechanic to go light-dark, light-dark, up-down, up-down...

...B, A, Select, Start.