For the subsequent few nights, the moon might be getting brighter and brighter till we attain the complete moon. We’re on day two of the lunar cycle, a sequence of eight distinctive phases of the moon’s visibility. The entire 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 examine what’s taking place with the moon tonight, Aug. 25.
What is right this moment’s moon part?
As of Monday, Aug. 25, the moon part is Waxing Crescent, and solely 5% might be lit as much as us on Earth, in accordance with NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
It’s solely day two of the lunar cycle, so there’s nonetheless not sufficient of the moon lit as much as see something on its floor, so eager moon gazers might want to wait just a few extra days.
When is the subsequent full moon?
The subsequent full moon might be on Sept. 7. The final full moon was on Aug. 9.
What are moon phases?
According to NASA, moon phases are brought on by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which adjustments the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon seems from Earth because it goes round us. We all the time see the identical aspect of the moon, however how a lot of it’s lit up by the Sun adjustments relying on the place it’s in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that seem fully invisible. There are eight fundamental moon phases, they usually comply with a repeating cycle:
Mashable Light Speed
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 appropriate aspect (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the appropriate aspect. It seems like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, however it’s not fairly full but.
Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is illuminated and totally seen.
Waning Gibbous – The moon begins dropping mild on the appropriate 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.