The Moon looks like it is almost gone from the sky tonight. This is because we’re only a few nights away from the New Moon, the part of the lunar cycle where the Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Tuesday, Sept. 8, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in Waning Crescent phase, with 10% of its surface visible.
With a telescope or binoculars, tonight you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Grimaldi Basin, but that’s all for tonight.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.
What are Moon phases?
The Moon’s appearance gradually changes as it travels around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days, NASA tells us. What we see from Earth depends on the Moon’s position in relation to the Sun, which affects how much of its illuminated side is visible. As the cycle progresses, the Moon passes through a series of phases, from a thin crescent to a half Moon and then a Full Moon, before starting over.
The eight phases are:
Mashable Light Speed
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.
