The Moon doesn’t look the same every night. Sometimes it’s a full circle, other times just a thin crescent. These changes happen because of the lunar cycle, a roughly 29.5-day pattern where the Moon passes through eight phases as different parts are lit by the Sun while it orbits Earth. Keep reading to find out where we are in this cycle now.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Thursday, March 12, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 42% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
Here's what you can see tonight. Without any visual aids you can see the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars, you'll also see the Grimaldi Basin, the Gassendi Crater and the Clavius Crater. And, finally, with a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?
In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct phases along the way. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount illuminated by the Sun shifts as it moves, which is why it can appear full, half-lit, or just a thin sliver at different times in the cycle. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
