Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on May 2, 2026

It’s the day after the Full Moon, and it nonetheless nearly appears 100% in the sky. With this in thoughts, remember to look up and try to catch a glimpse of some options on the floor tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, May 2, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 100% of the moon will nonetheless be lit up, in keeping with NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visible aids, tonight you must be capable of see the Mare Crisium and Vaporum, and the Tycho Crater. With binoculars, you may see the Posidonus Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. And, lastly, with a telescope you may see all this plus the Apollo 14 and 17 touchdown spots, in addition to the Descartes Highlands.

When is the subsequent Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the subsequent because of happen on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to POTthe Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to circle Earth as soon as, going by eight distinct phases in the course of. Even although we at all times see the identical facet of the Moon, the quantity of daylight hitting it adjustments because it strikes in its orbit. The shifting mild creates the altering shapes we all know as full, half, and crescent Moons. Altogether, there are eight principal lunar phases.

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous – The Moon begins shedding mild on the proper facet. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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