Where is the Moon headed?
By Lois Mackenzie on May 14, 2026
The Moon is almost completely out of sight, with just a few days until the New Moon. Keep reading to find out what you might be able to spot in the night sky tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Thursday, May 14, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 9% of the moon will be lit, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
To see anything in the sky tonight, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope. With one, you should be able to spot the Grimaldi Basin.
When is the next Full Moon?
There are two Full Moons in May, with the next on May 31.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, moving through eight distinct phases. We always see the same side of the Moon, but the changing sunlight angle creates full, half, and crescent shapes. The lunar cycle includes eight main phases:
– New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark.
– Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light on the right side.
– First Quarter: Half of the Moon is lit on the right side, appearing as a half-Moon.
– Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit up, not quite full yet.
– Full Moon: The entire face is illuminated and visible.
– Waning Gibbous: The Moon starts losing light on the right side.
– Third Quarter (or Last Quarter): Another half-Moon, now the left side is lit.
– Waning Crescent: A thin sliver remains on the left side before going dark again.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable, covering everything from local news to running shoes. She has bylines in Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on tech or sports guides. Lois holds a Master’s degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Aberdeen.