We’re approaching a new moon, and soon there will be days when we barely see the moon at all. We’re now on day 21 of the lunar cycle, a series of eight unique phases of the moon’s visibility. The entire cycle lasts about 29.5 days, according to NASA , and these different phases occur when the sun illuminates different parts of the moon as it orbits Earth.
Let’s find out what’s happening with the moon tonight, September 13th.
What is the moon phase today?
Starting Saturday, September 13, the moon phase is waning and it is 60% illuminated on Earth, according to NASA’s daily moon observation in the area.
So what can we spot tonight? Without any visual aids, there are plenty of things to see, including the Mare Vapor, Tycho Crater, and Oceanus Procellarum.
If you have binoculars, you’ll also see Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater, and Mare Humulus. Add a telescope to your line of sight and you’ll see the Apollo 14 landing site, the Caucasus Mountains, and Reiner Gamma.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on October 6. The last full moon was on September 7.
What are the phases of the moon?
According to NASA, the phases of the moon are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the sun, moon, and earth. The phases of the moon are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is illuminated by the sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and months that appear completely invisible. There are eight main phases of the moon, and they follow a repeating cycle:
New Moon – The Moon is between the Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it is 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 crescent moon.
Waxing gibbous – More than half is lit, but it is not completely full yet.
Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning gibbous – The Moon begins to lose light on its right side.
Last quarter (or third quarter) – another crescent moon, but now the left side is lit.
Crescent Moon – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
