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As the moon orbits Earth, we see varying fractions of its lighted face. These are the changing phases of the moon. Read four tips to understanding moon phases.
2021 moon phases in a chart format. Dates closest to new moon provide the darkest skies and the best opportunities for stargazing and meteor-watching.
Read a list of the phases of the moon for all of 2021.
The video was created with data from from the Clementine moon mission of 1990s, plus measurements from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, orbiting now.
As seen from the moon, the Earth waxes and wanes - just as the moon does as seen from our world.
Watch for the moon in the morning sky - after sunrise - for a few days after full moon. Look west after the sun comes up!
Meteors in moonlight. It's not optimal, but it happens! Here's how to minimize the moon and optimize the Lyrid meteor shower in 2024.
Look at these photos for a sneak peak of Baily's Beads, which will be visible during the total solar eclipse on April 8.
The March full moon on March 24-25, 2024, is near the bright star Spica in the constellation Virgp. There's also a penumbral lunar eclipse!
If the moon orbited Earth on the same plane that Earth circles the sun, we'd have an eclipse at every full and new moon. Here's why we don't.
Did you see the moon and Jupiter close together on March 13, 2024? Check out the images our talented photographers captured, including the Galilean moons!
What is a supermoon? In 2024, there are 5 new supermoons in a row from January to May, and 4 full supermoons in a row from August to November.
The February full moon - or Snow Moon - happens overnight on February 23-24, 2024. It's the smallest full moon of 2024 and glows near the bright star Regulus.
The reason the 2024 Lunar New Year falls so late is the date of new moon and how it aligns with spring in the Chinese calendar.
The Northern Hemisphere's Harvest Moon falls overnight September 17-18, 2024, or almost 5 days before the September equinox. It's also a supermoon!
The 2024 January full moon falls on January 25. It's in Cancer and appears nearby the Beehive star cluster. It also closely follows the path of the sun in July.
We will have 5 new supermoons in a row, starting on January 11, 2024. The April 8, 2924, new supermoon will result in the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse!
A young moon is when a thin crescent appears in the evening sky just after new moon. Enjoy this beautiful composite image of the 12 young moons of 2023.
On December 30, 2023, the Juno spacecraft visited Jupiter's moon Io. It was the closest flyby of the volcanic moon in 20 years. See the images here.
There are 3 kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbral. A penumbral eclipse is very subtle. You can notice a shading on the moon's face.