For the forthcoming nights, the moon will increasingly shine brighter until the full moon is here. We’re currently on the second day of the lunar cycle, which consists of eight unique phases of the moon’s appearance. The whole cycle spans about 29.5 days, as per NASA, and these phases take place as the Sun lights up various sections of the moon while it revolves around Earth.

Let’s discover what’s occurring with the moon tonight, Aug. 25.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Aug. 25, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, with merely 5% visible to us on Earth, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

It’s only the second day of the lunar cycle, so there isn’t enough of the moon illuminated to get a clear view of its surface, meaning lunar enthusiasts will need to wait a few more days.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will happen on Sept. 7. The previous full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

As stated by NASA, moon phases result from the 29.5-day orbit of the moon, changing the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases depict how the moon looks from Earth during its orbit around us. We consistently see the same face of the moon, but the amount lit by the Sun varies according to its orbital position. This process produces full moons, half moons, and moons that appear unseen. There are eight principal moon phases, following a cyclic pattern:

New Moon – The moon sits between Earth and the sun, rendering the side we observe dark (invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent – A small slice of light emerges on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

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

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, but it isn’t full yet.

Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is lit up and entirely visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon starts losing light on the right side.

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

Waning Crescent – A narrow slice of light lingers on the left side before fading to darkness again.