The Moon
Latest about The Moon
![The planet Venus and the crescent moon are pictured on March 24, 2023 in Fuxin, Liaoning Province of China.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L4WGHmBiHcKyFishwBNF2K-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
The moon will 'smile' at Venus this Thursday. Here's how to see it.
By Jamie Carter published
Look up early Thursday (Nov. 9) to witness one of the most beautiful celestial sights of 2023 — a 'smiling' crescent moon dancing with bright Venus in the predawn sky.
![A photo of the moon in its First Quarter phase](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pXGoZ5eXmB7TBUHZSkwJ4o-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is the moon phase today?
By Colin Stuart last updated
Reference A look at the phases of the moon, from new moon to full moon, including's tonight's lunar phase.
![The Supermoon Eclipse is photographed from Bloomington, Indiana. The last time a Supermoon coincided with an eclipse was in 1982, and will not be repeated until 2033.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How to watch the full 'Hunter's Moon' get eclipsed this weekend
By Jamie Carter published
October's full 'Hunter's Moon' will drift into Earth's shadow for a partial eclipse on Oct. 28.
![The moon with a distant Earth in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EWU2ENVR9TVXXJkqpTj8QZ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Moon is 40 million years older than we thought, tiny crystals from Apollo mission confirm
By Harry Baker published
A new analysis of zircon crystals from the Apollo 17 mission has revealed that the moon formed around 40 million years earlier than past geological evidence suggested. However, our cosmic companion may be even older than that.
![Large full moon that is orange rising over trees in Fall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How to see the Harvest Moon, the final supermoon of 2023, rise this weekend
By Jamie Carter published
The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29.
![A new mosaic of Shackleton Crater as seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera and ShadowCam.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YUFfkVpVGoZZ5EW4aGQdnC-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Haunting new moon images reveal enormous crater deeper than the Grand Canyon near the lunar south pole
By Jeff Spry published
This striking composite shot of the lunar south pole appears in National Geographic Magazine's special space issue out on Sept. 19.
![Two diagrams of the moon that show where water is located. A water content map of this valuable life-sustaining commodity across the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gTHfLNQn76dvrUXBaNFQfT-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mysterious source of water on the moon traced to Earth's magnetic shield
By Robert Lea published
Some of the moon's surface water may have an Earthly origin, due to high-energy interactions between the sun and Earth's magnetic shield, new research suggests.
![A false color image of the lunar south pole, showing areas of lower gravity in purple and higher gravity in red](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t3tj6eCRwpCCo5hqrpJBwF-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Humanity's future on the moon: Why Russia, India and other countries are racing to the lunar south pole
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Half a century after the first humans landed on the moon, global interest is once again rising to visit our celestial neighbor. This time, nations have their sights set on the lunar south pole. Why?
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