Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on January 10, 2025

The Moon is now in its third quarter, meaning it is half illuminated and half in shadow. There’s still a lot to see on its surface at the moment, so keep reading to find out what you can see.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, January 10, the moon phase is third quarter. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 51% of the Moon will be illuminated tonight.

If you look carefully, there should be a lot to see tonight. Only with your naked eye, you will be able to catch a glimpse of Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater Aristarchus Plateau. If you have binoculars, you’ll also be able to see Grimaldi Basin, Alphonsus Crater, and Mare Humorum. If you have a telescope, set it up and you’ll see the Apollo 14 landing site and Schiller Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on 1 February. The last full moon was on January 3.

What are the moon phases?

NASA reported that the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete one full orbit, a period known as the lunar cycle. As it revolves around the Earth, the Moon goes through a series of different phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the sunlight falling on it varies depending on its position in the orbit. This is why the Moon can appear fully illuminated, partially illuminated, or completely dark at different times. The lunar cycle includes eight main phases:

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).

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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.