The New Moon is fast approaching, meaning the Moon will be barely visible for the next few nights. This is to due with the lunar cycle, a roughly 29.5-day period in which the Moon orbits Earth and changes how much of its sunlit side we can see.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Thursday, April 16, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 2% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
Although part of the Moon is still visible, the illuminated portion is too small to make out any surface details tonight.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.
What are Moon phases?
NASA explains that the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, moving through eight distinct phases in the process. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the portion lit by the Sun changes as it travels, creating the familiar cycle of full, partial, and crescent shapes. These changing views are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.