Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on February 26
Have you spotted the Moon looking a bit fuller night after night? This is because we are approaching the Full Moon, a phase in the lunar cycle.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 70% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
With just your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mares Tranquillitatis and Serenitatis are both easy to spot, as well as the Tycho Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to see the Mare Nectaris, and the Alphonsus and Endymion Craters. Add a telescope to this line up and you'll see much more, including the Apollo 16 and 14 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
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When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. The eight phases are:
New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time.
Lois also holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.
