Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on December 18, 2025

We’re close to the New Moon, which means it’s almost the start of a new lunar cycle. The lunar cycle is the period of approximately 29.5 days during which the Moon orbits the Earth and appears to change shape as different parts of its sunlit surface become visible from our perspective.

What is the moon phase today?

Since Thursday, December 17, the phase of the moon is the waning crescent. That means only 2% of the Moon is illuminated tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

With such a small sliver of the moon exposed, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to see anything on its surface tonight.

When will the next full moon be?

The next full moon will be on January 3. The last full moon will be on December 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete a complete cycle. During this time, it goes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflected off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully lit, partially lit, or completely invisible at different times in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

New Moon – The Moon sits between the Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the naked eye).

Waxed Crescent – ​​A small burst of light appears on the right side (northern hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent – ​​A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before turning dark again.