According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts 29.5 days in total. Last weekend, we reached the beginning of a new cycle, marked with the New Moon (and a partial lunar eclipse). The lunar cycle is the process of the moon moving through its eight unique phases of visibility. These different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth.
After nights of nothing to see, there's finally enough moon in the sky to pull out the binoculars. Let's take a look at what is happening tonight, Sept. 25.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Thursday, Sept. 25, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, and according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, there is 13% visible.
After nights of nothing, we finally have something to look up to tonight, so let's take a look. With just your naked eye, look to the top right of the moon to see the Mare Crisium. More towards the middle, you'll see the Mare Fecunditatis. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, these will be positioned towards the bottom left.
If you have binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater. Top tip from NASA: if you have a telescope, you might just spot three smaller craters lined up within its border.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Oct. 6. The last full moon was on Sept. 7.
What are moon phases?
NASA tells us that moon phases are part of a 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit. This changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us; sometimes it looks full, sometimes it looks like it's disappeared entirely, but we always see the same side of the moon, it's just how much of it is lit up by the Sun that changes depending on where it is in its orbit.
This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:
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.
Last Quarter (or Third 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.
