The full moon is just a day out, so what does that mean for tonight’s moon? Keep reading to find out.
Today is the 14th day of the lunar cycle, a recurring series of eight unique phases of the moon’s visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days (according to NASA), and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. The moon is always there, but what we see on Earth changes depending on how much it is lit up.
See what’s happening with the moon tonight, July 9.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Tuesday, July 9, the moon phase is still Waxing Gibbous. From Earth, 98% of the moon will appear visible NASA’s Daily Moon Observation tells us.
Most of the moon’s surface is lit up for us tonight, so there’s plenty to see. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, look to the center of the moon for the Copernicus Crater, and the top right for the Mare Serenitatis, and the Mare Tranquillitatis. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, these will be located on the bottom left.
With binoculars, you’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of the Alps Mountains, Grimaldi Basin, and the Mare Humorum. Add a telescope and you’ll see Apollo 14, Linne Crater, and the Caucasus Mountains, a range around 323 miles long, NASA tells us.
When is the next full moon?
This month’s full moon will take place tomorrow, July 10.
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What are moon phases?
Moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:
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).
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.
Last Quarter (or Third 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.
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