It’s nearly a new lunar phase. The Moon is approaching its First Quarter phase tonight, with nearly half of its visible surface illuminated as it continues its monthly journey around Earth.
As of Friday, May 22, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 37% of the Moon will be lit up, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
Tonight, you can see the Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis with just the naked eye. If you have binoculars, you’ll be able to catch the Endymion Crater, and with a telescope, you can view the Apollo 11 and 17 landing sites.
There are two Full Moons in May, with the next set for May 31.
The Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth completely, passing through eight phases during that time. The same side of the Moon always faces Earth, but sunlight hitting its surface changes throughout its orbit, creating the familiar appearances: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. She has written for various publications, covering topics from local news to the best running shoes. You can find her work in Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, often covering deals from earbuds to TVs or guides on improving your half marathon time. 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.
