The moon is not visible this evening, signaling the beginning of the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle comprises eight unique phases regarding the moon’s visibility. This cycle spans roughly 29.5 days, as noted by NASA, and these phases arise as the Sun shines on various parts of the moon throughout its orbit around Earth.

Let’s discover what’s occurring with the moon this evening, Aug. 23.

What is the moon phase for today?

On Saturday, Aug. 23, the moon phase is New Moon, exhibiting 0% visibility from Earth, as per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

With 0% visibility, there’s nothing observable on the moon’s surface tonight.

When is the subsequent full moon?

The following full moon will take place on Sept. 7. The previous full moon occurred on Aug. 9.

What do moon phases mean?

According to NASA, moon phases emerge from the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, changing the angles among the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases depict how the moon is seen from Earth during its orbit around us. We always view the same face of the moon, yet the portion lit by the Sun fluctuates depending on its orbital position. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear to be unseen. There are eight key moon phases that form a cyclical pattern:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, resulting in a dark side that is invisible to sight.

Waxing Crescent – A slender crescent of light starts to show on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – The right side of the moon is illuminated halfway, resembling a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is bright, but it’s not yet at full illumination.

Full Moon – The complete face of the moon is lit up and entirely visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose brightness on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, now with the left side illuminated.

Waning Crescent – A narrow sliver of light lingers on the left side before becoming dark once more.