Keep reading to see how much of it shows up tonight.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Wednesday, April 1, the moon phase is the full moon. This means 100% of its surface will be illuminated tonight (according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide).
Tonight, without visual aid, you can see Kepler Crater, Mare Vaporum and Mare Serenitatis. With binoculars, you’ll also be able to see Mare Nectaris, Alphonsus Crater, and Endymion Crater. With binoculars, you’ll also be able to see the landing spots of Apollo 11, 14, and 15.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is estimated to occur on May 1, the first of two in May.
What are the moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight unique phases along the way. Although we always see the same side from Earth, different parts of its surface are illuminated by the Sun as it orbits it, making it appear fully illuminated, partially illuminated, or as a thin crescent. These changing scenes are called lunar phases, and there are eight in total:
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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 patch of light visible to the right (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – The right half of the Moon is illuminated. It looks like a half moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half burnt, but not full yet.
Full Moon – The entire face of the Moon is illuminated and completely visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon begins to lose light from the right. (Northern hemisphere)
Third quarter (or last quarter) – Another half moon, but now the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left before it gets dark again.
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