Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on December 19, 2025

In the United States, the New Moon occurs tonight, December 19, when the Moon is almost invisible in the night sky, ending the waning crescent phase and beginning a new lunar cycle. However, in other parts of the world, depending on the time zone, the New Moon could fall on December 20.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Friday, December 19, the moon phase is New Moon (if you are in the United States). This means that 0% of the Moon is illuminated tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

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.