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

Have you ever wondered why the moon looks slightly different every night? It has to do with the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the visibility of the moon. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases occur when the sun illuminates different parts of the moon while it orbits around the earth.

So, let’s see where we are in the cycle this evening, August 2.

What is the moon phase today?

On Saturday August 2, the moon phase is at the Gibbous wax. According to the daily observation of NASA, the moon will be lit 60% tonight.

It is the new day of the lunar cycle, and there is much to see on the surface of the moon.

With the eye without help, take advantage of an overview of the fecunditatis mare, the tranquillitatis mare and the Mare Crisium. If you are in the northern hemisphere, look at the top right. If you are in the southern hemisphere, you will see them at the bottom left.

With binoculars, enjoy an overview of the Alpes mountains, the mountains of the Apennine and the Crater of Aphhesus. With a telescope, you can also see the Rima Arladaeus, the Highlands of Descartes and the Altai ruptures.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will take place on August 9. The last full moon took place on July 10.

What are the phases of the moon?

According to NASA, the phases of the moon are caused by the 29.5 -day cycle of the Moon orbit, which changes the corners between the sun, the moon and the earth. The moon phases are the appearance of the moon of the earth as it goes out. We always see the same side of the moon, but the quantity on the part of the changes in the sun according to the place where it is on its orbit. This is how we get complete moons, half moons and moons that seem completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repetitive cycle:

New moon – The moon is between the earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it is invisible to the eye).

Croissant – A small ribbon of light appears on the right side (northern hemisphere).

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

Wax gibbous – More than half is lit, but it is not yet full.

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

Declining Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light on the right side.

Last quarter (or third trimester) – Another half -moon, but now the left side is on.

Decreasing crescent – A thin ribbon of light remains on the left side before returning dark.