It's the Third Quarter tonight, which means we're exactly halfway in between the Full Moon and the New Moon. This is part of the Moon's roughly 29.5 day cycle that sees it move through eight different phases. Keep reading to see what that means for tonight's Moon.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Friday, April 10, the Moon phase is Third Quarter. Tonight, 49% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.
Tonight, without any visual aids, you should be able to see the Oceanus Procellarum, Tycho Crater, and the Copernicus Crater. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, the Mare Humorum, and the Clavius Crater. Finally, if you have a telescope, expect to see features like the Schiller Crater and the Fra Mauro Highlands.
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When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, it takes the Moon roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct stages during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves, which is why it can look full, partly lit, or just a slim crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.