The moon is almost completely dark this evening because of our place in the lunar cycle.
The lunar cycle is made up of eight unique phases regarding the moon’s visibility. This cycle spans about 29.5 days, as reported by NASA, and these phases take place as the Sun lights up different sections of the moon while it travels around Earth.
Let’s investigate the moon’s condition tonight, Aug. 22.
What phase is the moon in today?
On Friday, Aug. 22, the moon finds itself in the Waning Crescent phase, displaying just 1% of its surface to us on Earth, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
We are on the 29th day of the lunar cycle, and due to the minimal illumination, spotting the moon tonight will be challenging.
When is the upcoming full moon?
The next full moon will occur on Sept. 7. The previous full moon took place on Aug. 9.
What exactly are moon phases?
Nasa explains that moon phases are the result of the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles among the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon is seen from Earth as it revolves around us. We consistently view the same side of the moon, but the part that the Sun illuminates varies according to its orbital location. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear to be absent. There are eight primary phases of the moon, following a continuous cycle:
New Moon – The moon is located between Earth and the sun, causing the visible side to be dark (invisible to our sight).
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of brightness appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the moon lights up on the right side, looking like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is illuminated, although it is not completely lit yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the moon is lit up and fully observable.
Waning Gibbous – The moon starts to lose illumination on the right side.
Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – A different half-moon appears, but now the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A narrow sliver of light lingers on the left side before it darkens once more.