The moon is slowly getting brighter with each passing night as we move through the phases of the lunar cycle.
This lunar cycle comprises eight unique stages of the moon’s visibility. This whole cycle spans roughly 29.5 days, according to NASA, with different stages occurring as the Sun shines on various sections of the moon during its orbit around Earth.
Take a look at what’s taking place tonight, July 26.
What is the moon phase for today?
On Saturday, July 26, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. There’s limited visibility tonight, with only 4% of the surface visible from Earth (as per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation).
This is the second day of the lunar cycle, and given the minimal visibility, there’s nothing to view on the moon’s surface tonight, even with the use of binoculars or a telescope.
When will the next full moon occur?
The upcoming full moon is set for August 9. The previous full moon occurred on July 10.
What defines moon phases?
As per NASA, moon phases are the result of the moon’s 29.5-day orbital cycle, which changes the angles among the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases describe the moon’s appearance from Earth as it travels around us. We consistently observe the same face of the moon, but the section illuminated by the Sun shifts based on its orbital position. This leads to full moons, half moons, and phases where the moon appears entirely dark. There are eight principal moon phases, following a continuous cycle:
New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, rendering the side facing us dark (invisible).
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light becomes visible on the right side (for the Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the moon is illuminated on the right side, looking like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it isn’t fully illuminated yet.
Full Moon – The moon’s entire face is illuminated and visible.
Waning Gibbous – The moon starts to lose illumination on the right side.
Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, but now the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A narrow sliver of light lingers on the left side before fading to darkness again.