We’re almost halfway through the month, and we’re nearing the end of the current lunar cycle. It’s day 24, which means the moon is slowly disappearing. By the 29th day, there’ll be nothing to see at all.
There’s still a glimpse to see tonight, however, so dust off any viewing gear and head outside to see what you can spot.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 24% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
If you don’t have any viewing gear, not to worry, there’s still features to be spotted with just your naked eye. These include the Kepler Crater and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have a pair of binoculars, these will help you to see these plus the Grimaldi Basin and the Mare Humorum. Lucky moon-gazers will a telescope will see all of this and catch extra sightings of the Apollo 12 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?
According to NASA, 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 eight distinct phases. The same side of the Moon always faces our planet, but 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 eight phases that make up the lunar cycle are:
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.
