A Full Moon is on the horizon shortly.

The lunar cycle comprises eight unique phases that illustrate the moon’s visibility. This cycle spans around 29.5 days, according to NASA, with these phases manifesting as the Sun shines on various sections of the moon while it orbits Earth.

Let’s discover what’s occurring with the moon this evening, Sept. 5.

What is the moon phase today?

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, showcasing 98% visibility from Earth, based on NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

The Moon shines brightly and is easily observable tonight, providing plenty to investigate. With the naked eye, you can see the Mare Imbrium, Mare Vaporum, and Mare Fecunditatis. Through binoculars, you can identify the Grimaldi Basin and Gassendi Crater. A telescope will offer views of the Apollo 14 and 17 landing sites, along with the Rupes Altai.

When will the next full moon be?

The upcoming full moon is set for Sept. 7. The previous full moon occurred on Aug. 9.

What are the different moon phases?

As stated by NASA, moon phases result from the 29.5-day lunar orbit cycle, which changes the angles among the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon is perceived from Earth as it revolves around us. We consistently observe the same face of the moon, but the illuminated portion by the Sun fluctuates according to its position in orbit. This results in full moons, half moons, and moons that appear entirely dark. There are eight primary moon phases, following a continuous cycle:

New Moon – The moon lies between the Earth and the sun, causing the side visible to us to be dark (invisible).

Waxing Crescent – A slender portion 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, but it isn’t completely full yet.

Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

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

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

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