Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on December 21, 2025

The Moon is finally starting to reappear, which means we are in a new lunar cycle. It will now become larger and brighter each night as we move towards the next Full Moon.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Sunday, December 21, the phase of the moon is the waxing crescent (if you are in the United States). According to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, 2% of the Moon will be illuminated tonight. With so little of the Moon lit, there is still nothing to see 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. This is called the lunar cycle. Throughout this period, it goes through a series of phases as it orbits the 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.