Moon section in the present day defined: What the moon will appear to be on August 1, 2025

It’s a half moon tonight, with the entire of the precise facet on show for us. Keep studying to seek out out what this implies, and the place we’re within the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a collection of eight distinctive phases of the moon’s visibility. The entire cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these totally different phases occur because the Sun lights up totally different components of the moon while it orbits Earth. 

See what’s occurring tonight, Aug. 1.

What is in the present day’s moon section?

As of Friday, Aug. 1, the moon section is First Quarter. This section happens when the moon is half lit up. NASA confirms this, in line with the Daily Moon Observation, it’s 50% lit up tonight.

It’s day eight of the lunar cycle, and the primary moon in August. What can we see tonight? With the unaided eye, take pleasure in a glimpse of the Mare Serenitatis, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Crisium. If you are within the Northern Hemisphere, look to the highest proper. If you are within the Southern Hemisphere, you will see these on the underside left.

With binoculars, you will additionally see the Endymion Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Posidonius Crater, a lava-filled impression crater that is seen from the fifth to the nineteenth day of the lunar cycle. Add a telescope to the combination, and you may additionally see the Linne Crater, Apollo 11, and Apollo 16.

When is the subsequent full moon?

The subsequent full moon will likely be on August 9. The final full moon was on July 10.

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 seems to be from Earth because it goes round us. We at all times see the identical facet 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 major moon phases, they usually observe a repeating cycle:

New Moon – The moon is between Earth and the solar, so the facet we see is darkish (in different phrases, it is invisible to the attention).

Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of sunshine seems on the precise facet (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the precise facet. It seems to be 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 absolutely seen.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins shedding mild on the precise facet.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, however now the left facet is lit.

Waning Crescent – A skinny sliver of sunshine stays on the left facet earlier than going darkish once more.