Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on January 2, 2025

We’re only a day away from the Full Moon, and it’s already starting to light up the night sky. If you look closely, you might see some of the larger craters and dark spots on its surface.

What is the moon phase today?

Since Friday, January 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to The Sky Live, 98.9% of the Moon will be illuminated this evening.

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 full cycle. This cycle is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this period, the Moon goes through a series of phases as it orbits the Earth. Even though the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight illuminating its surface changes over time. This is why the Moon appears fully lit, partially lit, or invisible at all at different stages of the cycle. The lunar cycle is divided into eight main 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.