The Full Moon is merely a day away, and it is already starting to brighten the night sky. If you look carefully, you might spot some of the prominent craters and shadowy regions on its surface.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Friday, Jan. 2, the current moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to The Sky Live, 98.9% of the moon will shine tonight.

When will the next full moon take place?

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

What are the phases of the moon?

As stated by NASA, the Moon requires approximately 29.5 days to finish a complete cycle, referred to as the lunar cycle. Throughout this duration, the Moon experiences a sequence of phases as it revolves around the Earth. Although the same hemisphere of the Moon consistently faces Earth, the quantity of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes. This is the reason the Moon appears entirely lit, partially visible, or not seen during various points of the cycle. The lunar cycle includes eight primary phases:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins 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 slender piece of light remains on the left side before it darkens once more.