The Moon | Astronomy.com https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon/ Astronomy news, photos, observing events, and space missions. Sat, 01 Nov 2025 16:48:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.astronomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpg The Moon | Astronomy.com https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-moon/ 32 32 2025 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases https://www.astronomy.com/observing/full-moon-calendar-dates-times-types/ Sat, 01 Nov 2025 16:40:56 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=131492// The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2025 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

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]]> The truth behind the Super Moon https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-truth-behind-the-super-moon-2/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:39:22 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=167139// Our culture has given us lots of terms for outstanding items, events, or people. But many of them contain one prefix that suggests the biggest or the best: super. Super Glue. Supernova. Super Bowl. Superman. Even the word that groups these expressions together contains those five letters: superlatives. This month, you’re sure to hear aContinue reading "The truth behind the Super Moon"

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]]> Is the New Moon ever visible? https://www.astronomy.com/observing/is-the-new-moon-ever-visible/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=166552// Is the New Moon ever visible? If so, can it be seen without a telescope? Esther BockMilwaukee, Wisconsin The New Moon is typically invisible to the naked eye. It occurs when the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, with its illuminated side facing away from us. As a result, the side we seeContinue reading "Is the New Moon ever visible?"

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]]> Is there ever a time that the Moon does not set or rise? https://www.astronomy.com/observing/is-there-ever-a-time-that-the-moon-does-not-set-or-rise/ Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=166138// Is there ever a time that the Moon does not set or rise, just like the Sun does from certain locations on Earth? Can it happen during any phase of the Moon? Mark NarwaOttawa, Ontario Yes, there are places on Earth where the Moon does not appear above the horizon. There are also places where theContinue reading "Is there ever a time that the Moon does not set or rise?"

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]]> Michael’s Miscellany: Tips for Observing the Moon, Part 2 https://www.astronomy.com/astronomy-for-beginners/michaels-miscellany-tips-for-observing-the-moon-part-2/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:07:55 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=165500// Recently, I posted the first part of this list, which you can find here. This is part 2. 6. Cut down the moonlight Many observers use either neutral density filters or variable polarizing filters to reduce the Moon’s light. I prefer the latter because an observer can change how much light the filter transmits. TwoContinue reading "Michael’s Miscellany: Tips for Observing the Moon, Part 2"

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]]> Michael’s Miscellany: Tips for Observing the Moon, Part 1 https://www.astronomy.com/astronomy-for-beginners/michaels-miscellany-tips-for-observing-the-moon-part-1/ Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:21:29 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=165494// The Moon offers something for every amateur astronomer. It’s visible somewhere in the sky most nights, its changing face presents features one night not seen the previous night, and it doesn’t take an expensive setup to enjoy it. To help you get the most out of viewing the Moon, I’ve developed some simple tips. FollowContinue reading "Michael’s Miscellany: Tips for Observing the Moon, Part 1"

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]]> Celebrate International Moon Day with Starmus https://www.astronomy.com/observing/celebrate-international-moon-day-with-starmus/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:04:42 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=165061// In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 20 International Moon Day, a celebration of our nearest celestial neighbor on the anniversary of the day Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969. The Starmus Festival, founded by astronomer Garik Israelian and astronomer and musician Brian May, is involved with many astronauts and hasContinue reading "Celebrate International Moon Day with Starmus"

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]]> This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: The Moon and Venus https://www.astronomy.com/this-week-in-astronomy/this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher-the-moon-and-venus/ Mon, 19 May 2025 14:08:44 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=162384// In this episode, Astronomy magazine Editor Dave Eicher invites you to head out in the early morning hours of May 22 and observe a close pairing of Venus and the Moon. About once a month these two celestial standouts come near each other, and this would be a nice one to photograph. The Moon will be aContinue reading "This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: The Moon and Venus"

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]]> When to see the Moon’s beaded ‘heart’ https://www.astronomy.com/observing/the-beaded-heart-on-the-moon/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=158131// As Valentine’s Day approaches, I thought I’d share with you a lunar phenomenon created by the interplay of light and shadow on the Moon. It’s a delightful pattern of lunar peaks and ridges that, when illuminated in the correct way, looks like a string of beads forming the shape of a heart. Catch it underContinue reading "When to see the Moon’s beaded ‘heart’"

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]]> Don’t miss tonight’s total lunar eclipse https://www.astronomy.com/observing/dont-miss-this-months-total-lunar-eclipse/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:19:56 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=159251// Another great celestial event is coming. And this one’s really easy to observe because you can see it with just your eyes. Not only that, but anyone in the U.S. under a clear sky will be able to watch it. On Thursday, March 13 (and continuing into the 14th), the Moon will pass through theContinue reading "Don’t miss tonight’s total lunar eclipse"

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