Trending

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

Latest Updates

chang'e 4 yutu 2

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

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

November new moon 2020: Dark sky sets the stage for meteors, planets and constellations

By Jesse Emspak

The new moon occurs on Sunday, Nov. 15, just two days before the Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak.

Full Moon with Airplane

2020 Full Moon Calendar

By Tim Sharp, Kimberly Hickok

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

A full moon shines over Virginia.

October full moon 2020: A 'Blue Minimoon' will haunt Halloween

By Jesse Emspak

Here's an observer's guide to the second full moon of October and the other sky sights you can see around it.

The Harvest Moon of Oct. 1, 2020.

Zany moon monikers: October's 'Blue Moon' and other lunar terms explained

By Joe Rao

October has already seen a Harvest Moon, now this week comes a "proxigean" new moon, and to finish out this month we'll have a "Halloween Micro Blue Moon." We'll explain.

A diagram showing the location of the nearly-full moon and Mars early on Oct. 3, 2020, as seen from New York City.

Don't miss Mars and the nearly full moon huddling together in tonight's sky

By Joe Rao

Friday night is date night for two bright celestial meetups that will light up the sky tonight (Oct. 2 - Oct. 3).

A full moon shines over Virginia.

The Harvest Moon of 2020 rises tonight! But why is it in October?

By Joe Rao

When the full moon shines tonight (Oct. 1), it will mark the Harvest Moon of 2020.

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

Harvest Moon 2020: When and how to see October's full moon

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of October 2020 also carries the title of the Harvest Moon for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Full Corn Moon will rise on Sept. 2, 2020.

September full moon 2020: The 'Corn Moon' swings by Mars

By Jesse Emspak

The Corn Moon will be full on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 1:22 p.m. EDT (1722 GMT), four days before the moon occults Mars.

See the lunar crater Copernicus near the moon's terminator on Aug. 27, 2020.

Sunrise at Copernicus crater: How to see the 'Monarch of the Moon'

By Joe Rao

You can see the moon's famous Copernicus crater along the lunar terminator — the line lunar between day and night — on Thursday (Aug. 27).

The Black Moon arrives on Wednesday, July 31.

Black Moon 2020: What it is (and why you can't see it)

By Joe Rao

Tuesday's sky (Aug. 18) is host to a somewhat unusual lunar event in the Western Hemisphere: a third new moon in a season of four new moons, which some people call a "Black Moon."

The Full Sturgeon Moon arrives on Monday, Aug. 3, at 11:59 a.m. EDT (1559 GMT).

August full moon 2020: Catch the 'Sturgeon Moon' with Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of August arrives on tonight (Aug. 3), after the moon makes a close pass to Jupiter and Saturn in the night sky.

Macy's fireworks go off on the top of the Empire State Building as the full buck moon rises in the sky on July 4, 2020 as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey.

July's full 'Buck Moon' wows skywatchers despite lackluster lunar eclipse

By Chelsea Gohd

Some skywatchers may have seen more than mere fireworks in the night sky during their Fourth of July celebrations on Saturday: the full moon.

This map from In-The-Sky.org shows the visibility area for the penumbral lunar eclipse of July 4-5, 2020.

The 'Buck Moon' lunar eclipse this Fourth of July will be hard to see

By Elizabeth Howell

The minor Independence Day eclipse will be difficult to spot and observers shouldn't expect mind-blowing views of the moon in Earth's shadow..

This sky map from the SkySafari astronomy software shows the path of the July 2020 full moon, known as the Buck Moon or Thunder Moon, as it dips through the outer edge of the Earth's shadow in the penumbral lunar eclipse of July 4-5, 2020.

A 'Buck Moon' lunar eclipse occurs this Fourth of July. Don't expect to see much.

By Joe Rao

The Full Buck moon of July 2020 will experience a minor penumbral lunar eclipse this weekend (July 4 and 5), but don't expect much.

Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of The Virtual Telescope Project in Italy captured these images of a penumbral lunar eclipse on Feb. 10-11, 2017.

July full moon 2020: 'Buck Moon' lunar eclipse meets Jupiter in the night sky

By Jesse Emspak

The July full moon, also known as the Buck Moon or Thunder Moon, occurs just after midnight on Sunday (July 5), with the moon reaching full phase at 12:44 a.m. EDT (0444 GMT)

The last-quarter moon will be in conjunction with Mars on June 12 at 2:24 a.m. EDT (0624 GMT). Catch them together in the predawn sky on June 13.

See Mars rise with the 'half' moon early Saturday morning

By Hanneke Weitering

The last-quarter moon will make a close approach to the Red Planet in the predawn sky on Saturday (June 13), providing a celestial treat for early birds and night owls.

The Full Strawberry Moon is seen during the penumbral lunar eclipse over the sky of Bekasi, Indonesia, on June 6, 2020.

'Strawberry Moon' lunar eclipse treats skywatchers around the world (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell

Photographers around the world captured stunning images of the recent Full Strawberry Moon eclipse, showing the subtle darkening as the moon barely grazed the shadow of the Earth.

This composite image of an annular solar eclipse was taken by Koji Kudo from Kawasaki, Japan, on May 21, 2012.

Eclipse season 2020 has arrived! Catch 2 lunar eclipses and a 'ring of fire' this summer

By Joe Rao

During June and early July, it is eclipse season once again. In the coming weeks, there will be three eclipses that take place: one of the sun and two of the moon.

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

June full moon 2020: The 'Strawberry Moon' brings a penumbral lunar eclipse

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of June, also called the Strawberry Moon, will occur June 5 at 3:12 p.m. EDT (1912 GMT). That same day, a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.