Today’s Moon Phase: A Preview of the Moon’s Appearance on August 10, 2025

The moon continues to shine brightly in the night sky after last night’s full moon, inviting us to explore its wonders. Let’s take a moment to discover what’s unfolding with the lunar phase tonight.

The lunar phase consists of eight distinct stages of the moon’s visibility, completing a cycle in about 29.5 days, as shared by NASA. Each phase occurs as the Sun illuminates different parts of the moon while it gracefully orbits Earth. So, what is the moon revealing to us on August 10?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, August 10, the moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, glowing at 98% of its brilliance as seen from Earth, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation. There’s still much to appreciate tonight, like the Mare Fecunditatis, the Copernicus Crater, and the Oceanus Procellarum, all visible to the naked eye. If you have binoculars or a telescope, tonight is a perfect opportunity to use them! Binoculars will offer a glimpse of the Grimaldi Basin, while a telescope will reveal the beauty of the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next full moon?

Our next full moon will grace the sky on September 7, following the recent full moon on August 9.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases occur due to the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which alters the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. These phases illustrate how the moon appears from Earth as it travels around us. We consistently see the same side of the moon, yet the illuminated portion changes based on its orbital position. This leads to the formation of full moons, half moons, and phases where the moon seems to vanish.

The eight primary moon phases follow a rhythmic cycle:

• New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering the side we see dark, making it invisible.
• Waxing Crescent – A delicate sliver of light emerges on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).
• First Quarter – Half of the moon gleams on the right, resembling a half-moon.
• Waxing Gibbous – More than half shines brightly, yet it hasn’t reached fullness.
• Full Moon – The moon’s entire face is illuminated and fully visible.
• Waning Gibbous – The moon gradually begins to lose light on the right side.
• Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – Another half-moon appears, this time lighting up the left side.
• Waning Crescent – A slender sliver of light remains on the left before it fades into darkness again.