The moon appears quite small in our night sky this evening, but it will soon return to being full and luminous once more. It is moving through the lunar cycle, and since we are only on day two, it will take a few days for it to begin taking form again.

The lunar cycle refers to the visibility of the moon. There are a total of eight phases, and the full cycle spans approximately 29.5 days, based on NASA’s information. These various phases arise as the Sun lights up different portions of the moon during its orbit around Earth.

Let’s check on the moon’s status for tonight, Sept. 23.

What phase is the moon in today?

As of Tuesday, Sept. 23, the moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, and as per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, only 3% is visible this evening.

Once more, the moon is not adequately lit by the sun, so there isn’t much to observe tonight.

When will the next full moon take place?

The next full moon is expected on Oct. 6. The previous full moon was on Sept. 7.

What do moon phases refer to?

NASA informs us that moon phases are part of a 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit. This changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon is seen from Earth as it revolves around us; at times it appears full, at other times it seems to vanish completely, yet we consistently see the same face of the moon. It’s merely the portion illuminated by the Sun that varies depending on its orbital position.

This is how we notice full moons, half moons, and moons that seem entirely invisible. There are eight primary moon phases, following a recurring cycle:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, thus the side we face is dark (invisible).

Waxing Crescent – A small slice of light can be seen on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – The right side of the moon is illuminated halfway, resembling a half-moon.

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

Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is bright and fully observable.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light from the right side.

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

Waning Crescent – A slim slice of light persists on the left side before going dark again.