Have you ever thought about why the moon looks different from night to night? This is because of the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle comprises eight unique phases of the moon’s visibility. It takes roughly 29.5 days to finish (according to NASA), and these phases take place as the Sun lights up different sections of the moon during its orbit around Earth. The moon is consistently present, but what we perceive from Earth changes based on how much light it gets.

Take a look at the moon’s condition tonight, July 6.

What is the moon phase today?

On Monday, July 7, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. From our viewpoint on Earth, 89% of the moon will be visible (as per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation).

This signifies the 12th day of the lunar cycle, and the moon is close to being full. Key features visible to the naked eye tonight include the Aristarchus Plateau, Mare Serenitatis, and Mare Tranquillitatis.

With binoculars, you can also see Posidonius Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and Clavius Crater. If you use a telescope, you’ll notice Apollo 17, Fra Mauro Highlands, and Caucasus Mountains.

When is the upcoming full moon?

The full moon for this month will take place on July 10. The last full moon was on June 11.

What constitutes moon phases?

Moon phases emerge from the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, changing the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate the moon’s look from Earth as it travels around us. We consistently see the same side of the moon, but the lighted portion from the Sun varies depending on its orbital location. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear nearly invisible. There are eight main moon phases, following a recurring cycle:

New Moon – The moon is situated between Earth and the sun, making the side we observe dark (invisible to sight).

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

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

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

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

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

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon, with the left side illuminated.

Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light persists on the left side before disappearing again.