The moon is getting much less and fewer seen every night time, and it will not be lengthy earlier than we see nothing in any respect.
The moon is trying a little bit darker proper now as a consequence of the place we’re within the lunar cycle, a collection of eight distinctive phases of the moon’s visibility. The complete cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these completely different phases occur because the Sun lights up completely different elements of the moon while it orbits Earth.
So let’s have a look at what’s taking place with the moon tonight, Aug. 19.
What is at the moment’s moon section?
As of Tuesday, Aug. 19, the moon section is Waning Crescent, and it’s 16% lit as much as us on Earth, in response to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
We’re on day 26 of the lunar cycle, and there is actually not a complete lot for us to see tonight. With no visible aids aside from your eyes, try to spot the Aristarchus Plateau. This is positioned within the high left of the moon (backside proper, if you happen to’re within the Southern Hemisphere).
With binoculars, see much more, together with the Grimaldi Basin, and with a telescope, take pleasure in a glimpse of the Reiner Gamma.
When is the following full moon?
The subsequent full moon will probably be on Sept. 7. The final full moon was on Aug. 9.
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What are moon phases?
According to NASA, moon phases are attributable to the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which modifications the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon appears from Earth because it goes round us. We at all times see the identical aspect of the moon, however how a lot of it’s lit up by the Sun modifications relying on the place it’s in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that seem utterly invisible. There are eight primary moon phases, they usually observe a repeating cycle:
New Moon – The moon is between Earth and the solar, so the aspect we see is darkish (in different phrases, it is invisible to the attention).
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of sunshine seems on the correct aspect (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the correct aspect. It appears like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, however it’s not fairly full but.
Full Moon – The complete face of the moon is illuminated and absolutely seen.
Waning Gibbous – The moon begins shedding gentle on the correct aspect.
Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, however now the left aspect is lit.
Waning Crescent – A skinny sliver of sunshine stays on the left aspect earlier than going darkish once more.