The Full Moon has passed, so now the Moon will be getting smaller each night as we move towards the New Moon.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Monday, Feb. 2, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 99% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
It’s a day after the Full Moon, and there’s still a whole lot of moon in the sky tonight. This means there’s lots to see, eithout or without visual aids. Without, the Mare Imbrium, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Serenitatis all come into view. With binoculars, you’ll also see the Posidonius Crater, Clavius Crater, and Apennine Mountains too. Finally, with a telescope, you’ll see all this and the Caucasus Mountains, Rima Ariadaeus, and the Rupes Altai.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the lunar cycle lasts around 29.5 days. This is how long the Moon takes to travel once around Earth. Over that period, it passes through eight recognised phases. The same side of the Moon always faces our planet, however the portion that appears lit changes as the Moon moves along its orbit. The amount of sunlight reaching the Moon is what makes it appear full, partially illuminated, or almost invisible at different points in the cycle. The eight lunar phases are:
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.
