The moon is steadily increasing in brightness and will keep doing so each night until the upcoming full moon. Though it might be faintly visible tonight, it is indeed there, as today marks the beginning of the lunar cycle.
The lunar cycle comprises eight unique phases regarding the moon’s visibility. This complete cycle lasts around 29.5 days, as stated by NASA, and these phases happen as the Sun shines on different parts of the moon during its orbit around Earth.
Let’s delve into what is taking place with the moon tonight, Sept. 22.
What is the moon phase today?
On Monday, Sept. 22, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent, with only 1% visible tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
Regrettably, not enough of the moon is lit to discern any surface details tonight, but it will continue to grow brighter as the cycle advances.
When is the upcoming full moon?
The next full moon will take place on Oct. 6. The previous full moon occurred on Sept. 7.
What are the phases of the moon?
As per NASA, the phases of the moon result from the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, changing the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases illustrate how the moon appears from Earth as it revolves around us. We consistently observe the same hemisphere of the moon, yet the portion illuminated by the Sun changes depending on its position in orbit. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear entirely dark. There are eight primary phases of the moon, adhering to a cyclic pattern:
New Moon – The moon is located between Earth and the sun, making the visible side dark (effectively invisible).
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light shows up on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the right side, looking like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half of the moon is illuminated, but it isn’t fully bright yet.
Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is lit and completely observable.
Waning Gibbous – The moon starts to lose light on the right side.
Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon is visible, but this time the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A slim sliver of light lingers on the left side before fading to darkness again.