If you’re intrigued by the luminescence of the night sky and the visibility of the moon,

The moon undergoes a sequence of eight unique phases over a span of roughly 29.5 days, as indicated by NASA. These phases arise as the Sun lights up various sections of the moon while it orbits around Earth.

Whether you are a passionate astronomy lover or an astrology enthusiast, understanding the lunar phases can add a hint of celestial magic to your night.

Here’s the current state of the moon today, June 19, 2025.

What is today’s moon phase?

On Thursday, June 19, the moon is exhibiting the Last Quarter phase. At this stage, the moon is about half illuminated, specifically 42%, according to NASA.

It’s the 23rd day of the lunar cycle, and in the Northern Hemisphere, you can observe the Copernicus Crater and the Oceanus Procellarum, a vast lunar mare known as the “Ocean of Storms,” in the upper left. In the Southern Hemisphere, these formations appear at the lower right of the moon. No binoculars or telescope are required; they are visible to the unaided eye.

The Copernicus is the most significant of the moon’s craters, measuring 57 miles across and reaching a depth of 2.2 miles. For perspective, that’s nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, as stated by NASA.

The Oceanus Procellarum is also remarkable, encompassing over 10% of the moon and stretching more than 1,600 miles.

When is the next full moon?

June’s full moon took place on June 11. The upcoming full moon will be on July 10.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are a component of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, NASA clarifies, resulting from the angles formed by the sun, moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate the moon’s look from Earth as it circles us. We consistently see the same side of the moon, but the part lit by the Sun shifts based on its location in orbit. Therefore, it can sometimes look full, half, or entirely obscured. There are eight main moon phases, creating a recurring cycle:

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

Waxing Crescent – A tiny sliver of light emerges 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 lit up, but it’s not yet full.

Full Moon – The complete surface of the moon is illuminated and entirely visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon starts to lose light on the right side.