So, what’s going on with the today’s moon, August 13?
Each day in the moon’s cycle, we see a little less of it. The lunar cycle has eight phases and lasts about 29.5 days, says NASA. These phases occur because the Sun lights up different parts of the moon as it orbits Earth.
What is Today’s Moon Phase?
Today, Wednesday, August 13, The moon is in its waning gibbous phase, with roughly 79% of its surface still lit—a stage where the illuminated portion gradually decreases after a full moon.
It is also the second night of the Perseids Meteor Shower peak. The moonlight might make some meteors harder to see, but many will still shine through.
Without any equipment, you can spot features like the Tycho Crater, Mare Serenitatis, and Oceanus Procellarum (“Ocean of Storms”), which covers over 10% of the moon.
With binoculars, you can see more details like the Clavius Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and Mare Frigoris. A telescope will reveal even more, including the Apollo 11 landing site, the Rima Ariadaeus, and the Linne Crater.
What is Special About it?
Looking at today’s moon, are currently in lunation day 19, meaning the moon is moving toward the third quarter phase.
This phase comes just after the rare Sturgeon Moon (full moon visible on two consecutive nights) earlier this month, continuing the spectacular lunar display
The moon will rise later at night and remain visible until morning—ideal for viewing before dawn.
So tonight, you can enjoy a richly lit, slowly dimming moon with great clarity, especially when the sky is clear.
NASA explains that moon phases happen because of the moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth, which changes how sunlight hits it from our point of view. Even though we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of it lit by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its path. This creates the different phases—sometimes it’s fully lit (full moon), partly lit (half moon), or not visible at all (new moon).
There are eight main phases, repeating in the same order:
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- New Moon – Moon is between Earth and the Sun, so the side we see is dark.
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- Waxing Crescent – A small lit sliver appears on the right (Northern Hemisphere).
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- First Quarter – Right half of the moon is lit.
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- Waxing Gibbous – More than half lit, but not full.
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- Full Moon – Entire face is bright.
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- Waning Gibbous – Light starts fading from the right.
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- Last Quarter – Left half of the moon is lit.
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- Waning Crescent – Just a thin left-side sliver before going dark again.
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