The Moon is now in its Third Quarter, which means it’s half-illuminated and half in shadow. There’s still lots to see on its surface for the time being, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Saturday, Jan. 10, the Moon phase is Third Quarter. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 51% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
If you look carefully, there should be lots to see tonight. With just your naked eye, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater the Aristarchus Plateau. If you have binoculars, you’ll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Humorum. If you have a telescope, set it up and you’ll see the Apollo 14 landing spot and the Schiller Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.
What are Moon phases?
NASA explains that the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a full orbit, a period known as the lunar cycle. As it moves around Earth, the Moon goes through a series of distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the sunlight hitting it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can appear fully lit, partially lit, or completely dark at different times. The lunar cycle includes eight main phases:
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).
Mashable Light Speed
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.
