What is today’s moon phase?
As of Friday, February 20, the moon phase is waxing crescent. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 9% of the Moon will be illuminated tonight.
Moon observations are back, and there are some viewing opportunities tonight. Without any visual aid, you should be able to recognize some surface features, but mainly Mars Criseum and Fecunditatis.. If you add a telescope or binoculars, you’ll add Endymion Crater to this line up.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on March 3. The last full moon was on 1 February.
What are the moon phases?
NASA tells us that the Moon makes one complete revolution around the Earth in about 29.5 days. During this cycle, it goes through eight different phases. Although we constantly see the same side of the Moon, the part illuminated by the Sun changes as it rotates in its orbit. The changing angle of sunlight reflecting off the Moon’s surface causes it to appear fully, partially illuminated, or nearly dark at different times. The eight steps include:
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).
mashable light speed
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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