The moon phases show the passage of time. Sometimes the moon is full and bright, other times it is just a small amount of light. The phases of the moon affect appearance. The moon goes through eight different phases. The four primary phases of the moon occur about a week apart.
The moon's phases will occur in May 2022.
First Quarter: May 8
Full Moon: May 16 (total lunar eclipse overnight on May 16/17)
Last Quarter: May 22
New Moon: May 30
The moon has four distinct phases each month.
As you watch the moon grow from a new moon to a first quarter moon, keep an eye on it. As it grows, it is known as a waxing moon, and gradually increases from a waxing crescent into the first quarter moon. It takes on an oblong shape until it reaches the full moon stage.
As it heads back to a new moon, it will repeat the steps in reverse. You can see what the moon phase is like with the embeddedwidget on this page.
The moon phases for 2022, according to NASA, are listed here. The times and dates are in the United States. We have a guide to the best telescopes and telescopes for kids to help you view the moon.
We have a guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as how to photograph a lunar eclipse. There is a guide on how to photograph a solar eclipse.
Our best cameras for Astrophotography and best lenses for Astrophotograph y guides can help you get ready for the next lunar sight.
| New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 1:33 p.m. | Jan. 9, 1:11 p.m. | Jan. 17, 6:48 p.m. | Jan. 25. 8:41 a.m. |
| Feb. 1, 12:46 a.m. | Feb. 8, 8:50 a.m. | Feb. 16, 11:57 a.m. | Feb. 23, 5:32 p.m. |
| March 2, 12:35 p.m. | March 10, 5:45 a.m. | March 18, 3:17 a.m. | March 25, 1:37 a.m.. |
| April 1, 2:24 a.m. | April 9, 2:48 a.m. | April 16, 2:55 p.m. | April 23, 7:56 a.m. |
| April 30 4:28 p.m. | May 8, 8:21 p.m. | May 16, 12:14 a.m. | May 22, 2:43 p.m. |
| May 30, 7:30 a.m. | June 7, 10:48 a.m. | June 14, 7:52 a.m. | June 20, 11:11 p.m. |
| June 28, 10:52 p.m. | July 6, 10:14 p.m. | July 13 2:37 p.m. | July 20,10:18 a.m. |
| July 28, 1:55 p.m. | Aug. 5, 7:06 a.m. | Aug. 11, 9:36 p.m. | Aug. 19, 12:36 a.m. |
| Aug. 27, 4:17 a.m. | Sept. 3, 2:08 p.m. | Sept. 10, 5:59 a.m. | Sept. 17, 5:52 p.m. |
| Sept. 25, 5:54 p.m. | Oct. 2, 8:14 p.m. | Oct. 9,.4:55 p.m. | Oct. 17, 1:15 p.m. |
| Oct. 25, 6:49 a.m. | Nov. 1, 1:37 a.m. | Nov. 8, 6:02 a.m. | Nov. 16, 8:27 a.m. |
| Nov. 23, 5:57 p.m. | Nov. 30, 9:36 a.m. | Dec. 7, 11:08 p.m. | Dec. 16, 3:56 a.m. |
| Dec. 23, 5:17 a.m. | Dec. 29, 8:20 p.m. |
The moon is half-illuminated by the sun and is a sphere. The illuminated half of the moon can be seen as it travels around Earth. The moon's disk is illuminated from our perspective.
The side of the moon facing toward us is lit by dim sunlight reflected from Earth, and the moon is between Earth and the sun.
The side of the moon that we can see gradually becomes illuminated by the sun.
The moon is 90 degrees away from the sun in the sky and is half-illuminated from our point of view. The moon has traveled about a quarter of the way around Earth since the new moon.
The area of illumination continues to increase. More than half of the moon appears to be getting light.
The moon is as close to being fully illuminated by the sun as possible, since it is 180 degrees away. The sun, Earth and the moon are all in the same place, but the moon's position in the sky isn't perfect. We have a lunar eclipse when the Earth's shadow crosses the moon's face.
More than half of the moon appears to be getting sunlight, but the amount is decreasing.
The moon moved another quarter of the way around Earth in the last quarter. The sun's light is shining on the other side of the moon.
Less than half of the moon appears to be getting sunlight, and the amount is decreasing.
The moon is back to its normal position. The moon is between Earth and the sun. Sometimes the moon passes right in front of the sun, and we get a solar eclipse.
There is an Infographic about how moon phases work.
NASA has a calendar of moon phases, lunar and solar eclipses and more for the entire year. Space.com has a full moon calendar for 2022. There are events for skywatching this month in our night sky guide.
SkyCal - SkyEvents Calendar, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL.html
What's Up - Skywatching Tips from NASA
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/
The Moon Phases reference page was updated on April 12, 2022.
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