If the sky is clear where you are tonight, you’ll likely be able to make out some surface features on the Moon. But what are they? Keep reading to find out.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Thursday, June 4, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 87% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
You don’t need fancy gear to spot craters or other features on the Moon’s surface, if it’s a clear enough night, your naked eye should be enough. In fact, without visual aids you should be able to spot the Mare Serenitatis, Aristarchus Plateau, and the Mare Tranquillitatis. If you have binoculars you’ll also spot the Grimaldi Basin, Alps Mountains, and the Posidonus Crater. If you have a telescope, set this up to see all this plus the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots and the Caucasus Mountains.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.
What are Moon phases?
NASA explains that the Moon completes one full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it moves through a sequence of eight phases. Even though the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight we can see changes as it travels along its path. This shifting light is what produces the lunar shapes, ranging from slim crescents to half-lit Moons and the bright Full Moon. All of these stages together make up the lunar cycle:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
Mashable Light Speed
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver 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 up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing 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 going dark again.
