The moon is steadily brightening, and after several days of poor visibility, NASA tells us that this evening we will have the chance to see some fascinating details on the moon’s surface.

The lunar cycle spans approximately 29.5 days, as stated by NASA, and these phases arise as the Sun shines on various sections of the moon during its orbit around Earth.

Let’s discover what’s occurring with the moon tonight, Aug. 27.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Wednesday, Aug. 27, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, with 18% visible from our vantage point on Earth, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

Following days of obscurity, there’s a lot to observe on the moon tonight. Without binoculars, gaze towards the top right (or bottom left if in the Southern Hemisphere) to locate the Mare Crisium and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars or a telescope, you can also see the Endymion Crater.

When will the next full moon be?

The upcoming full moon is set for Sept. 7, with the last full moon having taken place on Aug. 9.

What do moon phases mean?

As per NASA, moon phases result from the moon’s 29.5-day orbital cycle, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon is perceived from Earth during its orbit. We consistently see the same side of the moon, but the area lit by the Sun varies depending on its position in orbit. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear to be hidden. There are eight main moon phases, which follow a recurring pattern:

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

Waxing Crescent – A small portion of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is illuminated on the right side, appearing as a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, but it hasn’t reached full brightness.

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

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose illumination on the right side.

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

Waning Crescent – A narrow slice of light persists on the left side before it goes dark again.