The moon is currently in the Waxing Crescent phase, with only 11% of its surface illuminated as seen from Earth.
Why it matters: Moon phases result from the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit around Earth, which alters the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth, affecting how much of the moon’s surface is visible from our planet.
The details:
- The next full moon, known as the Corn Moon, will occur at 2:09 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
- The previous full moon was on August 9, 2025.
- Due to the limited illumination during the Waxing Crescent phase, keen moon gazers will need to wait a few more days before the moon becomes bright enough to see significant surface details.
The moon’s orbit creates different phases, including the New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter (or Third Quarter), and Waning Crescent.
Upcoming sky events:
- Tuesday, August 26: The Moon passes 3° south of Mars at 1 p.m. EDT. You can catch the pairing low in the west an hour after sunset. The Moon is now some 14 percent lit.
- Wednesday, August 27: The Moon moves 1.2° south of Spica during daylight hours. By this evening, a new line has formed in the sky with Spica now between Mars and the Moon. The Moon is 19 percent lit.
- Sunday, August 31: First Quarter Moon occurs at 2:25 a.m. EDT. The Moon then passes 0.7° south of Antares at 7 a.m. EDT. The Moon is now 54 percent lit.
The waning crescent moon, which occurs directly before the new moon, is currently in the fiery sign of Leo. This phase is a time for surrender, relaxation, and reflection before the new moon brings a surge in energy and desire to manifest.
What’s next: The new moon in Virgo will occur in the early morning hours of Saturday, starting a new eight-phase lunar cycle.
