After the Full Moon phase, the Moon will shrink in size each night as we near the New Moon, signaling the beginning of the waning phase.

What is the current moon phase?

As of Sunday, Jan. 4, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to The Sky Live, tonight 98.6% of the moon will be illuminated.

When will the next full moon occur?

The upcoming full moon will take place on Feb. 1.

What do moon phases signify?

As stated by NASA, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to finish a complete cycle, referred to as the lunar cycle. Throughout this duration, the Moon experiences different phases while orbiting Earth. Although the same face of the Moon consistently points towards Earth, the sunlight casting light on its surface shifts, resulting in the Moon appearing fully illuminated, partially illuminated, or completely dark during various stages. The lunar cycle is made up of eight primary phases:

New Moon – The Moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering it invisible from Earth.

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

First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side, resembling a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is bright, but not entirely full.

Full Moon – The full face of the Moon is completely illuminated.

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

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

Waning Crescent – A narrow slice of light persists on the left side before it dims completely.