Tonight may supply an excellent alternative for viewing particulars on the lunar floor.
While you search for on the moon tonight, Feb. 13, you would possibly discover that it seems to be minimize in half. That is as a result of the moon is in its last-quarter phase, also called the third-quarter phase, throughout which the a part of the moon that faces Earth is barely lit on one aspect.
In New York Metropolis, the moon will hit its last-quarter phase at precisely 11:01 a.m. EST (1601 GMT), in line with In-the-Sky (opens in new tab). However the moon will even have already set at the moment — it can have risen round 12:30 a.m. EST (0530 GMT) and may have set round 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) at the moment. However don’t fret, it’s going to rise once more late tonight — technically within the early hours of tomorrow morning (Feb. 14) — round 1:45 a.m. EST (0715 GMT) and set round 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT), and it will nonetheless look like nearly half illuminated.
Associated: What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023
The last-quarter phase is the fourth major phase within the moon’s 29.5-day cycle, which is how lengthy it takes for the celestial physique to orbit the Earth. As a result of the moon doesn’t emit gentle of its personal, however reasonably displays the sun’s gentle, solely half of the moon is illuminated at any given second. From Earth, we are able to solely see a portion of that illuminated face at any given time — save for the full moon phase, throughout which we see all of it.
The following phase we’ll “see” is the new moon on Feb. 20, however we truly will not see something in any respect. When the moon reaches the brand new phase, its illuminated face faces away from Earth, and the darkish face blends in with the blackness of space. Following the new moon, the moon will wax into the first-quarter phase over the course of a few week, then wax into the full moon on March 7, earlier than returning to the last-quarter phase a few week later.
Wish to get a more in-depth take a look at the last-quarter moon tonight? We have named the best telescopes and best binoculars for stargazing — and moon-gazing, too. And if you wish to seize the second for posterity, learn by means of our information about how to photograph the moon (and take a look at our picks for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography).
Editor’s Be aware: In case you snap the final quarter moon, and want to share it with Area.com’s readers, ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your title and site to spacephotos@space.com.
Observe Stefanie Waldek on Twitter @StefanieWaldek (opens in new tab). Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and on Facebook (opens in new tab)