We get closer to the full moon this month, but take a look at where we are first in the lunar cycle.
The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the visibility of the moon. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases occur when the sun illuminates different parts of the moon while it orbits around the earth.
So what’s going on with the moon tonight on August 4?
What is the moon phase today?
On Monday August 4, the moon phase is at the Gibbous wax. According to the daily observation of NASA, the moon will be lit at 77% tonight, the 11th day of the lunar cycle.
Every night, we progress in the lunar cycle, there is more visibility for us on earth. With just your naked eye tonight, you can spot Copernicus’ crater, the tranquillitatis mare and the Mare Crisium.
Pull the binoculars to see posidonius’ crater, the nectaris mare and the endymion crater. With a telescope, you can also see the Rima Arladaeus, the Highlands of Descartes and Apollo 12.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will take place on August 9. The last full moon took place on July 10.
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What are the phases of the moon?
According to NASA, the phases of the moon are caused by the 29.5 -day cycle of the Moon orbit, which changes the corners between the sun, the moon and the earth. The moon phases are the appearance of the moon of the earth as it goes out. We always see the same side of the moon, but the quantity on the part of the changes in the sun according to the place where it is on its orbit. This is how we get complete moons, half moons and moons that seem completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repetitive cycle:
New moon – The moon is between the earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it is invisible to the eye).
Croissant – A small ribbon of light appears on the right side (northern hemisphere).
First trimester – Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like half a moon.
Wax gibbous – More than half is lit, but it is not yet full.
Full moon – The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Declining Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light on the right side.
Last quarter (or third trimester) – Another half -moon, but now the left side is on.
Decreasing crescent – A thin ribbon of light remains on the left side before returning dark.
