Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on May 8, 2026

It's the day before the Third Quarter, so the Moon is closer to 50% illuminated. During this phase of the lunar cycle, the Moon is only half lit again, but this time it’s the opposite side compared to First Quarter, as the Moon moves toward the new moon. As of Friday, May 8, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 66% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide. If you look up with you no visual aids tonight you'll be able to spot the Mare Imbrium, Tycho Crater and the Kelper Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to see even more, including the Clavius Crater, Gassendi Crater, and Apennine Mountains are just a few. And that's not all, if you have a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Fra Mauro Highlands. There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31. According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, passing through eight different phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the way sunlight falls on it changes as it moves, which is what creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In