Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on February 28, 2026

The Moon is so very near being full, however consider it or not, there’s nonetheless just a few days to go. While it continues to look larger and brighter in the sky, maintain studying to seek out out precisely what you’ll be able to see on its floor.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, Feb. 28, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide88% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

With simply your bare eye, tonight you can see the Mares Tranquillitatis and Crisium. With binoculars you can see the Mare Nectaris, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Alps Mountains. If you like your moon-gazing gear, get out the telescope to catch a glimpse of and with a telescope you will additionally see the Apollo 15 and 11 touchdown spots, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the subsequent Full Moon?

The subsequent Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.

What are Moon phases?

According to POTthe Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this era, it strikes by way of eight recognizable phases, what we name the lunar cycle. While the similar aspect of the Moon at all times faces us, the quantity of its floor lit by the Sun adjustments because it continues alongside its path. The shifts in daylight create the totally different appearances we see from Earth, starting from a completely illuminated Moon to a skinny sliver or close to darkness. The eight phases are:

New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the solar, so the aspect we see is darkish (in different phrases, it is invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of sunshine seems on the proper aspect (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the proper aspect. It appears to be like like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, however it’s not fairly full but.

Full Moon – The entire face of the Moon is illuminated and absolutely seen.

Waning Gibbous – The Moon begins dropping gentle on the proper aspect. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, however now the left aspect is lit.

Waning Crescent – A skinny sliver of sunshine stays on the left aspect earlier than going darkish once more.