We’re heading towards the Third Quarter phase of the Moon. This occurs when about half of the Moon’s surface is illuminated. In the Northern Hemisphere, the lit portion appears on the left side, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it appears on the right.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Friday, Feb. 6, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 80% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
So, what can we see tonight? Without any visual aids, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Vaporum and Imbrium and the Aristarchus Plateau. With binoculars, you’ll also be able to see Clavius, Gassendi, and the Archimedes Craters. And, with a telescope, you’ll see all this plus the Apollo 12 and 15 landing spots.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3.
What are Moon phases?
NASA says that a complete lunar cycle takes about 29.5 days, which is the time the Moon needs to orbit Earth once. During this cycle, it goes through eight distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the visible portion that is illuminated changes as the Moon travels along its orbit. The varying amount of sunlight reflected off the Moon is what causes it to appear fully lit, partially lit, or nearly dark at different stages. The eight phases of the Moon 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.
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