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. 

Related Topics: The Moon

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The moon phases and dates for September 2022.

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2022

By Tariq Malik published

Reference See the phase of the moon tonight and the rest of the moon phases for 2022, and when you can see them.

An illustration of the new moon on Sept. 25, 2022.

September New Moon 2022: Jupiter at opposition

By Jesse Emspak published

Reference The new moon occurs September 25, at 5:54 p.m. EDT (2154 GMT). The new moon happens a day before Jupiter reaches opposition, when the planet is visible all night.

September 17 - Third Quarter Moon

See the last quarter moon of September 2022 tonight (Sept. 17)

By Robert Lea published

As the moon's light side recedes heading towards a new moon, it will be half-illuminated on Saturday during a phase called the last quarter.

A photo of a nearly full moon. The image was taken one day prior to the supermoon, or a moon that appears larger due to being the closest to Earth in its orbit.

Full moon calendar 2022: When to see the next full moon

By Kimberly Hickok published

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

Full Harvest Moon setting behind the Statue of Liberty through a telephoto lens

Harvest Moon 2022: September's full moon thrills stargazers around the world (photos)

By Tariq Malik published

The full Harvest Moon of September lit up the night sky this weekend in a dazzling lunar sight enjoyed by skywatchers around the world.

Sept 10 - Full Harvest Moon

An early Harvest Moon rises Saturday. Here's what to expect for September's full moon.

By Joe Rao published

The full moon of Saturday (Sept. 10) also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

The full moon rises over the Bondi Beach in Sydney on September 21, 2021.

September full moon 2022 guide: the Harvest Moon

By Jesse Emspak published

September's full moon will be bracketed by close approaches to Saturn on Sept. 8 and Jupiter on Sept. 11.

Astrophotographer Anthony Lynch sent in this photo of the Harvest Moon, September 2013, taken at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Harvest Moon 2022: When and how to see September's full moon

By Jesse Emspak published

Reference The full moon of September 2022 also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

jupiter with the shadow of a moon on its atmosphere

Moon and Jupiter get together late Sunday night

By Joe Rao published

Check out the king of the planets meeting up with the moon on Aug. 14, throughout most of the night.

moon rising behind building

Sturgeon supermoon of 2022 stuns viewers around the world (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

The last of four supermoons in a row rose Aug. 11, 2022 and generated gorgeous pictures.

large full moon rises up behind a hill.

The last supermoon of the year rises tonight: Watch it online for free

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Watch the last supermoon of the year rise over Rome with the Virtual Telescope Project's free livestream, which starts on Aug. 12 at 1:30 a.m. ET.

An outburst of Perseid meteors lights up the sky in August 2009 in this time-lapse image.

August's full moon likely to outshine Perseid meteor shower this year, NASA astronomer says

By Samantha Mathewson published

The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated and popular night-sky shows of the year, is likely to be upstaged by August’s full moon.

The full moon as seen from the International Space Station on Dec, 20, 2021.

Watch the full moon dance over one year in stunning time-lapse video by photographer

By Tariq Malik published

A new time-lapse video from astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy shows the moon's dance, or libration, over a year of full moons.

Graphic from Starry night showing the location of the new moon just above the sun.

The July new moon provides dark skies tonight to see Jupiter, Mars and more

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The moon officially reached new moon phase today (July 28), leaving dark skies perfect for stargazing ventures.

The full moon rises over the Shanghai World Financial Center on July 13, 2022 in Shanghai, China.

Amazing photos of the Buck supermoon of 2022 from around the world

By Brett Tingley published

The largest full moon of 2022, the Buck Moon put on quite a show for moongazers all over the world yesterday (July 13).

A composite image of a buck elk is silhouetted against a full moon rise in Yellowstone National Park.

July full moon 2022: 'Buck supermoon' passes Saturn

By Jesse Emspak published

The full moon of July also called the "Buck Moon" or "Thunder Moon," will occur July 23 at 10:36 p.m. EDT (0236 GMT on July 24).

Graphic showing the moon and Mercury close together in the predawn sky.

See the moon shine near Mercury before dawn on Monday as it concludes its planet tour

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The moon will pass close to Mercury in the predawn sky on Monday (June 27). Find out how and where to see this skywatching event.

A view of 5 planets aligned in the morning sky with labels.

You can watch the rare 5-planet alignment in a live webcast for free today

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch the five naked-eye planets align for free on a livestream that will be running Sunday (June 26).

Wright Dobbs took this image of the five naked-eye planets from St. Cloud, Florida on June 24, 2022.

See the rare alignment of 5 planets and the moon in this stunning night sky photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The rare sight of five bright planets lining up with the moon wowed skywatchers around the world Friday and you can still see it this weekend.

sky diagram of moon and venus

Venus and the crescent moon get together in dazzling dance early Sunday

By Joe Rao published

Get up early Sunday to see a celestial rendezvous between the two brightest objects in the night sky: Venus and the moon.