The Moon is shining vividly this evening, with more than half of its surface aglow. Keep reading to find out what you can witness tonight.

What is the Moon phase today?

As of Saturday, March 28, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Per NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 77% of the Moon will be aglow this evening.

This evening, without any telescopic assistance, you can observe the Tranquillitatis, Imbrium, and Vaporum Mares. Using binoculars, you can also view the Mare Frigoris, Alphonsus Crater, and the Clavius Crater. A telescope will enable you to see even more, including the Caucasus Mountains and the Apollo 14 and 16 landing sites.

When will the next Full Moon occur?

In North America, the upcoming Full Moon is anticipated on April 1.

What are the different Moon phases?

As stated by NASA, the Moon completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 29.5 days, transitioning through eight unique phases. Although the same hemisphere of the Moon is always directed toward us, sunlight illuminates various sections as it orbits, causing it to appear full, half, or as a thin crescent. These varying appearances are referred to as the lunar phases, totaling eight:

New Moon – The Moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, resulting in the side we observe being dark (invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent – A slight sliver of illumination is visible on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – The right side of the Moon is lit up halfway, resembling a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, yet it is not fully illuminated.

Full Moon – The complete surface of the Moon is illuminated and fully apparent.

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

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

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