Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on August 23, 2026
The Moon is getting closer to the Full Moon, with more than half of its surface illuminated tonight. It’s still in its Waxing Gibbous phase, so there’s plenty to see as the Moon continues to get brighter each night.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Sunday, Aug. 23, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase, with 79% of its surface visible.
Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Crisium and Imbrium, and the Tycho Crater. If you want to see even more, use binoculars to bring the Clavius and Endymion Craters into view, as well as the Apennine Mountains. Plus, if you have a telescope, you’ll also be able to see the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Descartes Highlands.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.
What are Moon phases?
The Moon goes through a series of phases that cause its appearance to change as seen from Earth. As the Moon orbits Earth, it goes through a lunar cycle that takes about 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determine how much of the Moon’s illuminated side is visible from Earth, creating its different phases. Throughout the cycle, the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before repeating the cycle once more.
The eight phases are:
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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).
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.
