Moon part right now defined: What the moon will seem like on August 31, 2025

We’re in a brand new moon part tonight, which means the moon is round half lit up.

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 completely different phases occur because the Sun lights up completely different components of the moon while it orbits Earth. 

So, let’s have a look at what’s taking place with the moon tonight, Aug. 31.

What is right now’s moon part?

As of Sunday, Aug. 31, the moon part is First Quarter, and 53% will probably be lit as much as us on Earth, in line with NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

There’s rather a lot to see whenever you lookup on the moon tonight. With no visible aids, you will see the Mare Serenitatis, the Mare Fecunditatis, and the Mare Tranquillitatis. With binoculars, you will additionally get a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, the Archimedes Crater, and the Apennine Mountains. If you’ve got a telescope too, you will additionally spot the Apollo 15, Apollo 17, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the subsequent full moon?

The subsequent full moon will probably 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 appears from Earth because it goes round us. We all the time see the identical facet 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 most important moon phases, and so they comply with 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 appropriate facet (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the appropriate facet. It appears like a half-moon.

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

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

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