Earth's Moon: Formation, Composition and Orbit

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Latest about moon phases

full moon in the sky

Watch the Full Worm Moon rise in free telescope webcast on March 7

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Virtual Telescope Project will feature the Worm Full Moon shining over Rome on Tuesday (March 8), starting at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT).

Stargazing
Graphic showing the moon, Jupiter and Venus in the night sky at 7 p.m. local time on Feb. 22, 2023.

See the moon and Venus dance together in Wednesday evening's sky

By Stefanie Waldek published

On Wednesday (Feb. 22), the moon and Venus will make a close approach and also reach conjunction, which happens when they share the same right ascension.

Stargazing
An illustration of how the third quarter moon will appear in the night sky on Feb. 13, 2023.

See the half-lit last quarter moon rise tonight

By Stefanie Waldek published

Tonight the moon will reach its third-quarter phase, the last phase in the moon's monthly four-phase cycle. It will continue to wane until the new moon on Feb. 20.

Stargazing
Low angle view of moon against sky at night.

Lunar love affair: Enjoying the beauty of the moon

By Joe Rao published

Throughout history, the has moon remained a favorite skywatching target for astronomers of all levels.

Stargazing
An illustration of February's Full Snow Moon as it will appear in the night sky on Sunday (Feb. 5), with a size comparison between this "micromoon" and the mean lunar size.

The Full Snow Moon of 2023: Smallest 'micromoon' of the year rises tonight

By Brett Tingley published

February's Full Snow Moon rises on Sunday (Feb. 5) and will be the smallest full moon of the year due to the current position of the moon in its orbit.

Stargazing
The Full Snow Moon rises over Eindhoven, Netherlands on Feb. 27, 2021.

Watch February's Full Snow Moon on Sunday (Feb. 5) with this free telescope webcast

By Brett Tingley published

February's Full Snow Moon rises on Sunday (Feb. 5), and you can watch it shine brightly in the sky from the comfort and warmth of your own home thanks to a free telescope webcast.

Stargazing
Google doodle of a sylized rabbit with the Google logo for Lunar Year 2023.

Google celebrates Lunar New Year 2023 with Year of the Rabbit doodle

By Tariq Malik published

A new lunar new year is hopping off to a great start and Google is marking the occasion with a series of Google doodles.

Earth
Jan21-2023 at 2053 GMT - New Moon

The new moon is the closest in nearly 1,000 years tonight

By Stefanie Waldek published

The new moon on Saturday (Jan. 21) is the closest new moon in 992 years at just 221,561 miles (356,568 km) away, but you won't be able to see anything from Earth.

Stargazing
Full moon rises over the US Marine Corps War Memorial in Virginia, United States on January 5, 2023.

1st full moon of 2023 was a wonderful Wolf Moon worldwide (photos)

By Brett Tingley published

The first full moon of 2023, January's Wolf Moon, led to some gorgeous imagery around the world.

Stargazing
Sky map of the moon near Saturn on Dec. 26, 2022 in the southwestern sky.

See Saturn near the moon in a late Christmas gift in the night sky tonight (Dec. 26)

By Robert Lea published

The moon will visit Saturn for the last time of 2022 on Monday (Dec. 26) in a parting Christmas gift in a twilight conjunction that will disappear from view before night sets in.

Stargazing
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives