Tonight signifies the new moon stage, and it is day 22 of the lunar cycle, comprising eight unique phases of the moon’s visibility. This complete cycle spans about 29.5 days, per NASA, with these phases occurring as the Sun shines on various sections of the moon while it revolves around Earth.
Let’s delve into the moon’s activity tonight, Sept. 14.
What is the moon phase today?
On Sunday, Sept. 14, the moon phase is Third Quarter, appearing 49% illuminated to observers on Earth, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
There’s less visibility each night, but there’s still plenty to see tonight. Without visual enhancements, you can identify the Tycho Crater and the Copernicus Crater. If you possess binoculars, use them to observe the Gassendi Crater and the Alphonsus Crater. With a telescope, search for the Schiller Crater and the Fra Mauro Highlands.
When is the subsequent full moon?
The upcoming full moon will take place on Oct. 6. The previous full moon occurred on Sept. 7.
What are the phases of the moon?
As stated by NASA, moon phases emerge from the 29.5-day lunar orbit cycle, changing the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon looks from Earth as it orbits us. We consistently see the same face of the moon, but the segment lit by the Sun shifts depending on its orbital location. This results in full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely dark. There are eight main moon phases, following a repetitive cycle:
New Moon – The moon is situated between Earth and the sun, causing the side we observe to be dark (invisible).
Waxing Crescent – A small portion of light appears 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 illuminated, but it is not yet full.
Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is lit and fully 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 slim sliver of light persists on the left side before it goes dark again.