Moon section at present defined: What the moon will appear to be on August 16, 2025

The moon is half lit up tonight, which implies numerous issues. Namely, we’re in a brand new lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is 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 components of the moon while it orbits Earth. 

So, what’s occurring with the moon tonight, Aug. 16?

What is at present’s moon section?

As of Saturday, Aug. 16, the moon section is Third Quarter (often known as the Last Quarter) and it’s 46% lit as much as us on Earth, in accordance with NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

From this level onwards, the moon might be much less and fewer seen, as we’re now on day 23 of the lunar cycle. But there’s nonetheless loads to identify on the moon’s floor, if you happen to look laborious sufficient. With your bare eye, catch a glimpse of the Aristarchus Plateau, the Tycho Crater, and the Copernicus Crater.

With binoculars, see much more, together with the Archimedes Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and the Clavius Crater. If you’ve a telescope, look out for the Apollo 12, Reiner Gamma, and the Schiller Crater, too.

When is the following 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 attributable to 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 to be 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 utterly invisible. There are eight predominant moon phases, they usually comply with 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 proper aspect (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the proper aspect. It seems to be like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it surely’s not fairly full but.

Full Moon – The complete face of the moon is illuminated and absolutely seen.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins dropping mild on the proper 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.