The moon phase today is a Waxing Gibbous, meaning it’s more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. This phase lasts approximately seven days, with the moon’s visibility increasing nightly until it reaches fullness. The Waxing Gibbous moon rises in the east during the mid-afternoon and can be seen high in the eastern sky as the sun sets. The term “Gibbous,” originating from the 14th century, comes from the Latin word “gibbosus,” meaning humpbacked.
The current Waxing Gibbous phase boasts a 90% illumination, signifying the portion of the moon reflecting sunlight. This illumination fluctuates constantly, potentially changing up to 10% per day. The moon’s age, referring to the time elapsed since the last New Moon, is currently 11.68 days. The complete lunar cycle, encompassing all eight moon phases, takes 29.53 days as the moon orbits the Earth.
Today, the moon resides in the zodiac sign of Cancer, positioned at 18.57° within the sign. The moon’s presence in a specific zodiac sign indicates its celestial location as it traverses the twelve zodiac signs. Each zodiac sign hosts the moon for about 2 to 2.5 days. The moon transitions between signs, reflecting its continuous movement across the sky.
The eight lunar phases comprise a complete lunar cycle, taking 29.53 days. The four primary moon phases are the Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, and Last Quarter. These major phases are interspersed with four minor phases: Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent. Each phase represents a distinct point in the moon’s monthly journey around the Earth.
