Moon Phases

Tonight (May 19) is the new moon, and it's a rare "black moon," which occurs approximately once every 33 months.

The moon will be in its third quarter phase on Friday, May 12, with its face half-lit, halfway between its fully illuminated full moon phase and its completely dark new moon phase.

The moon will be half-illuminated on Thursday (April 27), during the first quarter phase halfway between the new moon and the full moon.

And on Thursday evening, April 20, everyone across North America will have an opportunity to sight an exceedingly young crescent moon. Try your own hand at finding it!

The new moon occurs just after midnight on Thursday (April 20), ahead of the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims across the globe, while also signaling the end of a rare type of eclipse.

As we get closer to the new moon, stargazing conditions will improve with the lack of natural light pollution.

After April 2023's Pink Moon had set, photographers from across the globe took to social media to share their images and videos of the full moon.

April's full moon rises tonight (April 5), and peaks in the early hours of Thursday morning. Yet despite its name, April's Pink Moon never actually takes on a rosy hue.

The moon reaches its last quarter phase on Tuesday at which point the lunar face is half illuminated by the light of the sun. This phase falls halfway between the full moon and the new moon.

A new TikTok trend suggests that users can compare the phases of the moon on the day they are born to determine if they are soulmates.

March's full moon looks stunning in these photographs from around the world. The Worm Moon is the last winter full moon for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.

March's full moon, often referred to as the "Worm Moon," rises after sunset on Monday and reaches its peak, shining its brightest in the early hours of Tuesday (March 7).

The Virtual Telescope Project will feature the Worm Full Moon shining over Rome on Tuesday (March 8), starting at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT).

February's Full Snow Moon rises on Sunday (Feb. 5) and will be the smallest full moon of the year due to the current position of the moon in its orbit.

February's Full Snow Moon rises on Sunday (Feb. 5), and you can watch it shine brightly in the sky from the comfort and warmth of your own home thanks to a free telescope webcast.

A new lunar new year is hopping off to a great start and Google is marking the occasion with a series of Google doodles.

The first full moon of 2023, January's Wolf Moon, led to some gorgeous imagery around the world.

The moon will visit Saturn for the last time of 2022 on Monday (Dec. 26) in a parting Christmas gift in a twilight conjunction that will disappear from view before night sets in.

The Christmas moon lines up with four bright planets in a celestial holiday treat this week.

The moon will be exactly half illuminated during 2022's final last quarter moon on Friday (Dec. 16)