The moon is currently in its waxing gibbous phase, with 69% of its surface illuminated as of Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Why it matters: Understanding the moon’s phases and their visibility helps plan for lunar observations and appreciate the moon’s ever-changing appearance in our night sky.
The details:
- The lunar cycle consists of eight distinct phases, taking approximately 29.5 days to complete.
- The waxing gibbous phase occurs between the first quarter and full moon, with more than half of the moon’s surface lit up by the sun.
- During this phase, several lunar features are visible, including the Copernicus Crater, Mare Fecunditatis, and Mare Crisium, even without visual aids.
- Using binoculars or a telescope, observers can spot additional features such as the Alphonsus Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the landing site of Apollo 14.
The next full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, will occur on August 9, following the last full moon on July 10.
Moon phases explained:
- Moon phases result from the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth during the moon’s 29.5-day orbit.
- The eight main phases include New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
- The amount of the moon’s surface illuminated by the sun varies throughout the cycle, creating the appearance of different phases as seen from Earth.
As the moon continues its orbit, skywatchers can look forward to observing the upcoming full moon and the unique features visible during each phase.
