As of today, January 11, 2025, the Moon is in its Waning Crescent phase. This marks the final stage before the next New Moon, meaning the visible portion of the Moon is shrinking daily. Roughly 42% of the lunar surface will be illuminated tonight, making it easy to observe with the naked eye.
What to Expect Tonight
The Waning Crescent appears as a thin, curved sliver in the sky. Observers can spot prominent features like the Aristarchus Plateau, Kepler Crater, and Tycho Crater without any special equipment. Binoculars will reveal finer details, including the Grimaldi Basin, Clavius Crater, and Mare Humorum. For those with telescopes, the Apollo 12 landing site and Schiller Crater are also visible.
Understanding Lunar Phases
The Moon’s phases are a natural consequence of its orbit around Earth. The lunar cycle—the time it takes for the Moon to complete one orbit—lasts approximately 29.5 days. During this time, the amount of sunlight reflecting off the Moon’s surface changes as seen from Earth, creating the distinct phases we observe:
- New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and the Sun, appearing dark.
- Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light appears on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon is illuminated on the right.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is lit, but not fully.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is bright.
- Waning Gibbous: Light begins to disappear on the right side.
- Third Quarter: Half of the Moon is lit on the left side.
- Waning Crescent: A thin sliver remains on the left before the cycle repeats.
The consistent visibility of the same side of the Moon towards Earth does not prevent these changes in illumination; it’s the Sun’s angle relative to the Moon’s position that creates the different phases.
Future Full Moon
The next Full Moon is scheduled for February 1, 2025. The previous full moon occurred on January 3, 2025. Tracking these cycles helps understand the Moon’s predictable patterns and how they influence natural rhythms on Earth.
The Moon’s phases are a simple yet fascinating example of celestial mechanics at work, offering a constant reminder of the dynamic relationship between Earth and its natural satellite.
