Moon Phases Explained: Today’s Waxing Crescent and What’s Next

The Moon enters a new phase today, December 21, 2023, as it transitions into a Waxing Crescent. This marks the beginning of a lunar cycle where the Moon will gradually become larger and brighter each night, leading up to the next Full Moon. As reported by NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, only 2% of the Moon’s surface will be illuminated tonight, meaning the visible portion is minimal.

With such a small fraction of the Moon lit, viewers will not be able to see much detail on its surface. The upcoming Full Moon is scheduled for January 3, 2024, following the last Full Moon that occurred on December 4, 2023.

Understanding Lunar Phases

The Moon undergoes a complete cycle approximately every 29.5 days, known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this period, it passes through eight distinct phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the illumination from the Sun changes, resulting in various appearances of the Moon in the night sky.

These phases include:

– **New Moon**: The Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, rendering it invisible to observers.
– **Waxing Crescent**: A small section of the Moon on the right begins to catch sunlight.
– **First Quarter**: Half of the Moon is illuminated, creating the half-moon appearance.
– **Waxing Gibbous**: More than half of the surface is lit, but it is not yet full.
– **Full Moon**: The entire face of the Moon is fully illuminated and visible.
– **Waning Gibbous**: The illuminated portion begins to decrease on the right side.
– **Third Quarter (or Last Quarter)**: The left half of the Moon is now lit, creating another half-moon.
– **Waning Crescent**: A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before the cycle returns to the New Moon.

Understanding these phases enhances our appreciation of the Moon’s journey through the night sky and the natural rhythms of our solar system. As the Moon progresses into its brighter stages, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness its changing beauty in the coming weeks.