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

January new moon 2020: Catch Venus, Jupiter and more in the 'moonless' night sky

By Jesse Emspak

In January, the moon will make a close approach to several planets both before and after it enters its new phase on Jan. 24, offering some fine photo opportunities in a bright winter sky.

This new image from the Hubble Space Telescope features the enormous galaxy UGC 2885, which may be the largest known galaxy in the local universe. Located 232 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus, UGC 2885 is about 2.5 times the width of the Milky Way and contains 10 times the number of stars. However, it's a relatively quiet galaxy, with new stars forming at only half the rate of new stars in the Milky Way.

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.

December 2012 Last Quarter Moon

2020 Moon Phases Calendar

By Tim Sharp

Learn about the phases of the moon and when you can see them.

An airplane crosses in front of the Full Wolf Moon during the penumbral lunar eclipse on Jan. 10, 2020, in this photo taken by Stojan Stojanovski near Lake Ohrid in Macedonia.

Amazing photos: The Wolf Moon lunar eclipse of January 2020 in pictures

By Space.com Staff

See photos of the Full Wolf Moon and penumbral lunar eclipse of Jan. 10-11, 2020.

Full Moon with Airplane

2020 Full Moon Calendar

By Tim Sharp, Kimberly Hickok

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

Supermoon

Full Moon Names (and More) for 2020

By Joe Rao

Here is a list of all the full moon names, dates and times in 2020, beginning with the "Wolf Moon" in January, to the "Cold Moon" in December.

Photographer Stojan Stojanovski captured this photo of a penumbral eclipse over Macedonia on Sept. 16, 2016.

Lunar Eclipse 2020 Guide: When, Where & How to See Them

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Four penumbral lunar eclipses will appear across Earth's skies in 2020.

Chris Cook captured this photo of the moon near maximum penumbral lunar eclipse on Feb. 10, 2017, from his observatory in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

January Full Moon 2020: The 'Wolf Moon' Arrives with a Lunar Eclipse

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of January, called the Wolf Moon, will occur on Jan. 10 at 2:21 p.m. EST (1921 GMT), and it will coincide with a lunar eclipse for skywatchers in much of the world.

Venus and the moon will share a dazzling conjunction on the evening of Dec. 28, 2019 at sunset.

See Venus and the Moon Shine Together in Post-Christmas Gift (Earthshine, Too!)

By Joe Rao

On Saturday evening (Dec. 28), a lovely crescent moon will join Venus in the twilight sky, making for an eye-catching post-Christmas celestial ornament.

"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.

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

The full moon of October, called the Hunter's Moon, will grace the skies Oct. 13, as the smallest full moon of the year. Don't miss Jupiter and Saturn, too!

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

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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).