waxing gibbous | EarthSky

A waxing gibbous moon against a dark sky.

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

A waxing gibbous moon is in the sky before it's dark and lights up the early evening. It's more than half lighted, but not quite full. It sets after midnight.

Waxing gibbous moon this week

It's waxing toward full moon on August 7-8, obliterating the annual meteor showers and edging toward a lunar eclipse, then a solar eclipse.

A 72% illuminated waning gibbous moon against a dark sky.

What is a waning gibbous moon?

The waning gibbous moon falls between the full and last quarter moon. Watch for it to rise late at night. Or see it in the west in the morning.

A slender waxing crescent moon against a dark sky.

What is a waxing crescent moon?

A waxing crescent moon shines in the west after sunset, first visible a day or two after new moon with earthshine. It sets after the sun after sunset.

Waxing moon with Golden Handle

Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe, caught this photo of a waxing moon, setting, with what's called a Golden Handle (the curved feature at top right, jutting up along the line between light and dark on the moon).

Tuesday night’s waxing moon

If you see the moon tonight, it'll look nearly full, illuminating the sky nearly all night on this longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. Full moon comes on December 22.

Waxing moon over Amsterdam

The waxing gibbous moon rising over Amsterdam as the sun sets.

Waxing toward a supermoon, with rainbow

Kimmie Randall caught this photo of Thursday night's gibbous moon, waxing toward the supermoon ... with a portion of a rainbow. Beautiful!

Moon waxing toward total eclipse

As seen from around the world, the moon is waxing toward full. On the night of April 14-15, those in the Americas will see a total lunar eclipse.

This week’s waxing moon over Missouri

The June 17 waxing gibbous moon over Gladstone, Missouri. It's waxing toward a supermoon!

March 23 moon waxing toward full

Last night's moon - March 23, 2013 - waxing toward full. In the coming days, you'll find a large waxing moon in daylight in late afternoon, or shining brightly at night.

Waxing moon lights up Cancer the Crab on March 22

Use the moon to locate the constellation Cancer tonight, and in late March and early April, use key stars to star-hop to Cancer in a dark sky.

Green line of ecliptic with 2 stars near and 2 positions of moon.

Moon near Castor and Pollux, February 2 and 3

You can spot the waxing gibbous moon near Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins on the evenings of February 2 and 3, 2023. Read more here.

Gibbous moon inside circle with arrow showing movement over a red dot.

Moon occults Mars January 30-31, 2023

On the night of January 30-31, 2023, the waxing gibbous moon occults - or covers - the red planet Mars. Details here - how to see if - what to expect.

Moon near Jupiter on November 4

See the waxing gibbous moon near Jupiter on the evening of November 4, 2022. The pair lie in the constellation Pisces. Read more about Jupiter and the moon.

Star chart with moon on 2 days and Saturn on the left.

See the moon approach Saturn on August 9 and 10

Watch a bright waxing gibbous moon approach Saturn on the evenings of August 9 and 10, 2022. Saturn is then in the faint constellation Capricornus.

Star chart showing the moon near Antares.

Moon and Antares on June 22

On June 22, watch for the waxing gibbous moon and Antares, a bright red star. Look near Antares for the graceful curved tail of its constellation, Scorpius.

Moon near star Spica on April 25

From around the world tonight, use the waxing gibbous moon to locate Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

Bright moon puts the constellation Cancer in the spotlight, but out of view, on March 23 and 24, 2021.

Moon and Cancer on March 23 and 24

These next few nights - March 23 and 24, 2021 - the bright waxing gibbous moon puts the constellation Cancer in the spotlight, but out of view.

Moon south of the Gemini stars, Castor and Pollux, and north of Procyon, the Little Dog star.

Moon, Castor, Pollux and Procyon on February 23

On February 23, 2021, you'll find the bright waxing gibbous moon shining close to the 2 brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux. Procyon, the Little Dog Star, is also nearby.

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What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Waxing gibbous moon this week

What is a waning gibbous moon?

What is a waxing crescent moon?

Waxing moon with Golden Handle

Tuesday night’s waxing moon

Waxing moon over Amsterdam

Waxing toward a supermoon, with rainbow

Moon waxing toward total eclipse

This week’s waxing moon over Missouri

March 23 moon waxing toward full

Waxing moon lights up Cancer the Crab on March 22

Moon near Castor and Pollux, February 2 and 3

Moon occults Mars January 30-31, 2023

Moon near Jupiter on November 4

See the moon approach Saturn on August 9 and 10

Moon and Antares on June 22

Moon near star Spica on April 25

Moon and Cancer on March 23 and 24

Moon, Castor, Pollux and Procyon on February 23