Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on May 10, 2026

The Moon is now in its waning crescent phase, which means we are getting closer to the New Moon and the start of a new lunar cycle. Over the coming nights, visibility will decrease significantly. But for now, there are still a few features left to see, so keep reading to find out what you can see on the Moon tonight.

What is the phase of the Moon today?

Since Sunday May 10, the phase of the Moon is the waning crescent. Tonight, 46% of the Moon will be illuminated, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, you can see Kepler Crater and the Aristarchus Plateau tonight. If you have binoculars, take them out to catch a glimpse of Gassendi Crater, Clavius ​​Crater and Mare Humorum. Finally, if you have access to a telescope, admire the Apollo 14 landing site and Schiller Crater.

When will the next Full Moon take place?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next one occurring on May 31st.

What are the phases of the Moon?

According to NASA, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete a complete orbit around Earth, passing through eight different phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the way sunlight falls on it changes as it moves, creating the familiar full, half-crescent, and crescent shapes. In total, there are eight main phases in the lunar cycle:

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.

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.