Gazing up at the heavens and pondering the whereabouts of the moon? The lack of moonlight today is no enigma; it’s connected to our place in the lunar cycle. Interested in what that entails? Continue reading for more insight.

The lunar cycle features eight unique phases of the moon’s visibility. The complete cycle spans approximately 29.5 days, as stated by NASA, and these phases arise as the Sun casts light on various portions of the moon while it orbits around Earth.

So, what’s occurring tonight, July 23, and what stage are we in within the lunar cycle? Keep reading to discover.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, July 23, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, and it is nearly entirely obscured from our view on Earth. The moon will be merely 2% visible to us this evening, per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

On the 28th day of the lunar cycle, unfortunately, there is nothing to see on the moon due to the minimal illumination.

When is the next full moon?

The forthcoming full moon will occur on August 9. The most recent full moon was on July 10.

What are moon phases?

As per NASA, moon phases result from the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which alters the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases depict how the moon appears from Earth during its orbit around us. We always view the same side of the moon, but the portion lit by the Sun differs based on its orbital position. This leads to full moons, half moons, and moons that appear nonexistent. There are eight primary moon phases, following a cycling pattern:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering the side we observe dark (invisible to the eye).

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

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

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, but it hasn’t reached full illumination yet.

Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is shining and fully visible.

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

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

Waning Crescent – A slender sliver of light remains on the left side before it turns dark once more.