We're just a couple of days away from the next phase of the lunar cycle, the Third Quarter. This is when the Moon appears to be around half full, lit only on the left side (right side if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Thursday, May 7, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 74% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.
There is still enough of the Moon's surface illuminated to see features on it tonight. For example, if you look up with your naked eye you'll be able to spot the Mares Serenitatus, Vaporum and the Oceanus Procellarum.
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If you have binoculars, you'll be able to see even more, including the Clavius Crater, Mare Humorum, and Alps Mountains are just a few. And that's not all, if you have a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14 and 15 landing spots as well as the Rima Hyginus.
When is the next Full Moon?
There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, passing through eight different phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the way sunlight falls on it changes as it moves, which is what creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In total, there are eight main phases in the lunar cycle:
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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).
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.