If your idea of a great Valentine’s Day date is gazing at the Moon, then you’re in luck; this is one of the last nights before the New Moon where enough of its surface is illuminated. There’s not a whole lot to see, so you might want to plan for some romantic stargazing too…
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Saturday, Feb. 14, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 11% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
The only way to spot anything tonight is with a pair of binoculars or a telescope, with these you’ll be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, an impact basin on the far left of the Moon’s surface. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be on the far right.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one orbit around the Earth. Throughout that time, it goes through eight different phases of visibility. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the part that’s lit up changes as it moves along its orbit. The amount of sunlight reflecting off the surface is what makes the Moon look full, partly lit, or almost dark at different points. The eight 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.
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