Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on May 23, 2026

Tonight marks the first quarter Moon, when about half of the Moon’s visible side is illuminated.

What is the phase of the Moon today?

Since Saturday May 23, the phase of the Moon corresponds to the first quarter. Tonight, 48% of the Moon will be illuminated, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.

This evening, with the naked eye, you will be able to spot the Mares Crisium, Tranquillitatis and Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars, you can also see Endymion and Posidonius craters, and finally, a telescope will reveal the landing sites of Apollo 11, 16 and 17.

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 completely orbit Earth, going through eight phases during this time. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the way sunlight hits its surface changes throughout its orbit, creating the familiar full, half-crescent, and crescent appearances we see in the night sky. In total, the lunar cycle consists of 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.

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.