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Moon Phases

The moon's phases are caused by changes in the amount of illumination from the moon that is visible from the Earth's surface as the moon orbits our planet each month. There are eight distinct phases every month, four of them occurring roughly a week apart. They are: the New Moon; Waxng Crescent; First Quarter (or half-full; Waxing Gibbous; Full Moon; Waning Gibbous; Last Quarter (half-full on other side); Waning Crescent. You can read definitions for these moon phases here. When the moon is full and at its closest point to the Earth in it's orbit, it is known as a "Supermoon." Lunar eclipses occur during full moons, when the moon passes through all or part of Earth's shadow. During New Moons, the moon can cover part or all of the sun's disk, creating a solar eclipse. Learn more about the moon's phases here. 

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Full Moon with Airplane

2019 Full Moon Calendar

By Tim Sharp, Kimberly Hickok

The full moon happens once a month. Find out when.

"Full Cold Moon"

December Full Moon 2019: The 'Cold Moon' Joins Venus and Saturn Overnight Tonight!

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of December, called the Full Cold Moon, will arrive on Dec. 12, and as it rises it will be joined in the sky by the planets Venus and Saturn.

This composite image combines data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the NSF's Karl Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). Chandra observed powerful X-rays (red) produced by hot gas circling around a black hole at the center of a galaxy located 9.9 billion light-years from Earth. The VLA was used to detect radio-wave emissions (blue) emitted by the jet of high-energy particles streaming from the black hole.

Space Photos: The Most Amazing Images This Week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Here are our picks for the most amazing space photos of the week.

This illustration (made using real images and data) shows the moon in shadow during the "new moon" lunar phase.

November New Moon 2019: See a Parade of Planets in the 'Moonless' Night Sky

By Jesse Emspak

The new moon occurs on Tuesday (Nov. 26) at 10:06 a.m. EST (1506 GMT).

The nearly full supermoon Beaver Moon rises over the Syr Darya river near the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in Kazakhstan on Nov. 13, 2016 in this view by NASA photographer Bill Ingalls.

November Full Moon 2019: See the 'Beaver Moon' (and Meteors) Tonight!

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of November, called the Beaver Moon, will shine in the constellation Aries on Nov. 12, the same day as the peak of the Northern Taurid meteor shower.

Full Hunter's moon over Bear River Valley

October Full Moon 2019: Hunter's Moon Is Smallest of the Year

By Jesse Emspak

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The Harvest Moon of 2017 rises over NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in this photo by NASA photographer Debbie McCallum.

Harvest Moon 2019: When and How to See September's 'Micro' Moon

By Joe Rao

The full moon of September 2019 also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

The full micromoon adds a little extra creepiness to Friday the 13th.

On Friday the 13th, Don't Be Freaked Out by the 'Micromoon'

By Stephanie Pappas

The full moon of September 2019 is poised to provide some eerie atmosphere.

The full Harvest Moon rises over a windmill power plant near Mertola, Portugal, in this photo taken by José Zarcos Palma on Sept. 24, 2018.

September Full Moon 2019: When to See the 'Harvest Moon'

By Jesse Emspak

The full "Harvest Moon" occurs Sept. 14, at 12:33 a.m. EDT (0433 GMT), a day after it reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit.

Skywatchers can find Uranus and the Moon sharing the sky today (Aug. 21).

Look Up! Uranus and the Waning Gibbous Moon Share the Sky

By Chelsea Gohd

Just before dawn today (Aug. 21), skywatchers will be able to spot both Uranus and the waning gibbous moon.

The crew aboard the International Space Station took this image of a full moon on Aug. 13, 2019. They snapped the photo while orbiting 270 miles above the South Pacific Ocean.

The (Nearly) Full Moon of August 2019 Wowed Astronauts in Space. Here's What YOU Can See

By Chelsea Gohd

On Aug. 13, astronauts aboard the International Space Station took a striking image of a full moon.

The full moon of August 2016 occurs on Aug. 18 at 5:26 a.m. EDT. It is typically known as the Full Sturgeon Moon.

August Full Moon 2019: See the 'Sturgeon Moon' with Saturn During the Perseid Meteor Shower

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of August will be in the night sky on Thursday (Aug. 15), arriving just one day after the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower and three nights after making a close pass to Saturn.

The Black Moon arrives on Wednesday, July 31.

Black Moon 2019: What It Is (and Why You Can't See It)

By Joe Rao

Wednesday's sky (July 31) is host to a somewhat unusual lunar event in the Western Hemisphere: a second new moon in a single month, which some people call a "Black Moon."

NASA astronaut Christina Koch captured this photo of the partial lunar eclipse of July 16-17, 2019 from the International Space Station.

Partial Lunar Eclipse Puts on a Moon Show 50 Years After Apollo 11 Launch

By Doris Elin Urrutia

The moon was at the tail end of a partial lunar eclipse when it rose above the Andean horizon on Tuesday (July 16).

The Full Thunder Moon of 2019 will occur on July 16, at 5:38 p.m. EDT (2138 GMT).

July Full Moon 2019: 'Thunder Moon' Lunar Eclipse Meets Saturn in the Night Sky

By Jesse Emspak

July's full moon, nicknamed the Thunder Moon, occurs on July 16 at 5:38 p.m. EDT (2138 GMT). A partial lunar eclipse begins around that same time, and Saturn will be close by.

The total solar eclipse of July 2, 2019, as seen from a LATAM Airlines charter flight.

How Yesterday's Total Solar Eclipse Looked From a Plane (Photos, Video)

By Mike Wall

More than 50 people got a bird's-eye view of yesterday's (July 2) total solar eclipse aboard a special flight operated by Chile-based airline LATAM.

The moon's shadow passes south of Hurricane Barbara during the total solar eclipse of July 2, 2019, in this photo captured by the NOAA/NASA GOES West satellite.

Twofer! Total Solar Eclipse, Hurricane Barbara Spotted From Space (Photo)

By Mike Wall

A gorgeous satellite photo shows the moon's dark, ragged shadow barreling across the Pacific Ocean, just south of Hurricane Barbara's churning clouds, during today's total solar eclipse.

The full Strawberry Moon rises over Manhattan in this photo taken by John Entwistle on June 9, 2017.

June Full Moon 2019: Strawberry Moon Swings by Jupiter and Saturn

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of June, also called the Strawberry Moon, will occur the morning of June 17 at 4:31 a.m. EDT (0831 GMT).

Coast Guard Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent captured this famous D-Day image of the scene on Omaha Beach at about 7:40 a.m. on June 6, 1944.

How Astronomy Helped Turn the Tide for the Allies on D-Day

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D-Day's planners employed a solid knowledge of moon phases and tides to give the famous invasion the best chance for success 75 years ago today (June 6).

The next full moon will shine on May 18, 2019.

Watch the Blue Moon of May 2019 Rise Today in a Live Webcast!

By Elizabeth Howell

You can watch the "Blue Moon" rise live over Rome in a broadcast from the Virtual Telescope Project. Tune in today (May 18) to see the show, starting at 1:45 p.m. EDT (1745 GMT).