Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on January 10, 2025
The Moon is now in its third quarter, which means it is half lit and half in shadow. There’s still plenty to see on its surface at the moment, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.
What is the phase of the Moon today?
Since Saturday January 10, the phase of the Moon corresponds to the third quarter. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 51% of the Moon will be illuminated tonight.
If you look closely, there should be a lot to see tonight. With the naked eye, you can see the Mare Imbrium, the Copernicus crater and the Aristarchus plateau. If you have binoculars, you can also see the Grimaldi basin, the Alphonsus crater and the Mare Humorum. If you have a telescope, set it up and you’ll see the Apollo 14 landing spot and Schiller Crater.
When will the next Full Moon take place?
The next Full Moon will take place on February 1st. The last full moon took place on January 3.
What are the phases of the Moon?
NASA explains that the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete a full orbit, a period known as the lunar cycle. As it moves around Earth, the Moon goes through a series of distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the sunlight hitting it changes depending on its position in its orbit. This is why the Moon can appear fully lit, partially lit, or completely dark at different times. The lunar cycle includes 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).
Crushable speed of light
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.
Gibbous Decline – 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.
