Earth's Moon: Formation, Composition and Orbit

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Latest about moon phases

a pale rosy orange moon hangs in a hazy blue sky on the left above the blurred silhouette of a long city skyline on the horizon of an agitated sea. on the right, lower than the moon, a seagull glides, wings curved down like an arch.

February full moon 2025: See Mars disappear behind the Snow Moon

By Jesse Emspak last updated

February's Snow Moon peaks on Feb. 12, just three days after occulting Mars. Here's what to expect.

Stargazing
an illustration of the night sky

January new moon 2025: The young moon visits Venus and Saturn

By Jesse Emspak published

The young January moon will pass near Saturn and near Venus as they cluster together in the evening sky.

Stargazing
Image of a full moon with a blue hue for artistic effect. The moon doesn't turn blue during a "Blue Moon".

Blue Moon: what is it and when is the next one?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference A Blue Moon is a rare occurrence that depends on the timings of full moons during the year. The moon is not blue during a Blue Moon.

Reference
a series of red dots passes behind the moon and reemerges on the other side of it in a timelapse photo

January full moon 2025: The Wolf Moon hides Mars

By Jesse Emspak last updated

The full Wolf Moon of January 2025 occurs on Jan. 13 and will pass in front of Mars during a lunar occultation visible from North America.

Stargazing
You can't see a black moon but this image shows a very slim crescent of a slightly illuminated moon visible in the days following a black moon.

Black Moon: What is it and why does it occur?

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference A Black Moon is a rare occurrence. Here we explore what causes them and when the next one will happen.

Reference
Large fully illuminated moon with large craters against a black background.

Full moon names 2025 (and how they came to be)

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference The full moon names for each month, why they're named so and what we can expect from these lunar events.

Reference
Monocular

How to use monoculars for stargazing

By Matt Morris published

Monoculars offer a highly portable option for powerful stargazing wherever you are. Our handy guide will help you use them to spot objects in the night sky.

Astronomy Kit
A hand holding a night vision monocular in front of optical gear.

Are night vision monoculars good for skywatching?

By Matt Morris published

Night vision monoculars are hi-tech pieces of kit, but can they help us see celestial objects in areas with light pollution?

Astronomy Kit
an illustration of starry night sky

New moon December 2024: A young moon passes Venus

By Jesse Emspak published

Stargazing
Monocular on a wooden bench

Using a monocular for stargazing: Is it worth it?

By Matt Morris published

Are monoculars suitable for astronomy? The simple answer is yes, but with a few limitations that you should be aware of before investing.

Astronomy Kit
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