The Moon is approaching its fullest stage, with the majority of its surface now lit by the Sun. Over the course of its cycle, it passes through eight phases, shifting from complete darkness to full illumination before repeating this pattern all over again
Keep reading to see how much of it is visible tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Tuesday, March 31, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 97% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
Tonight, without visual aids, you can spot the Kepler Crater, the Mare Vaporum, and the Mare Serenitatis. With binoculars, you’ll also be able to see the Mare Nectaris, Alphonsus Crater, and the Endymion Crater. With a telescope, enjoy a glimpse of the Descartes Highlands, Caucasus Mountains, and the Linne Crater.
When is the next Full Moon?
In North America, the next Full Moon is predicted to take place on April 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to circle Earth, moving through eight unique phases along the way. Although we always see the same side from Earth, different amounts of its surface are lit by the Sun as it orbits, causing it to appear fully illuminated, partially lit, or as a thin crescent. These changing views are called the lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:
Mashable Light Speed
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. (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.
