This evening, the Moon is notably slender, signifying the start of the waxing crescent phase in the U.S. Nonetheless, in certain locations (based on the time zone), the New Moon officially takes place tonight.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Saturday, Dec. 20, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent (if you’re in the U.S). There is not much to observe tonight, with NASA’s Daily Moon Observation indicating that 0% of the moon will be illuminated. Thus, there’s practically no chance of seeing any characteristics on the Moon’s surface tonight.

When will the next full moon occur?

The upcoming full moon is expected on Jan. 3. The previous full moon happened on Dec. 4.

What are the phases of the moon?

Narrated by NASA, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to finish one complete cycle. This is referred to as the lunar cycle. During this period, it goes through various phases as it revolves around Earth. While the same side of the Moon perpetually faces us, the quantity of sunlight reflecting off its surface shifts, which results in it appearing fully bright, partially illuminated, or entirely hidden at different stages of the cycle. This sequence is categorized into eight primary lunar phases:

New Moon – The moon sits between Earth and the sun, rendering the side visible to us dark (essentially, it’s not visible).

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

First Quarter – The right side of the moon is lit up halfway. It resembles a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is illuminated, but it has not yet reached full brightness.

Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is lit up and completely observable.

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

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

Waning Crescent – A narrow band of light lingers on the left side before disappearing again.