The Moon is so close to its full phase, so on a clear night, visibility should be very good. Keep reading to find out what you might be able see on its surface tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Tuesday, Aug. 25, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase, with 92% of its surface visible.
Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Vaporum and Tranquillitatis, and Fecunditatis. Binoculars will help you see these, plus the the Clavius Crater, the Mare Frigoris and the Mare Nectaris. Plus, if you have a telescope, you’ll also be able to see the Apollo 11, 14 and 17 landing spots.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.
What are Moon phases?
The Moon’s appearance changes throughout the month as it moves through its different phases. It takes roughly 29.5 days for the Moon to complete one full cycle as it orbits Earth, according to NASA. The phase we see depends on the Moon’s position relative to the Sun and Earth, which determines how much of its sunlit side is visible to us. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon changes from a slim crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before beginning the process again.
The eight phases are:
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.
