The initial Moon of the new year has arrived, and we are merely days away from the Full Moon. It’s shining brightly tonight, so if the sky is clear, savor the sight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Jan. 1, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. As reported by The Sky Live, 94% of the moon will be lit tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The subsequent full moon will happen on Jan. 3. The previous full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

As stated by NASA, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to finish a complete cycle, referred to as the lunar cycle. Throughout this period, the Moon experiences various phases as it revolves around Earth. While the same side of the Moon perpetually faces our planet, the sunlight that brightens its surface changes. This leads to the Moon appearing fully illuminated, partly lit, or not seen at different points of the cycle. The lunar cycle includes eight primary phases:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering the visible side dark (invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light becomes visible on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

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

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is illuminated, yet not completely full.

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

Waning Gibbous – The moon starts to lose light on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

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

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