Science: Today, Dec. 13, 2024, the moon is 12 days old, in the waxing phase of its lunar cycle. It is 94% illuminated.
December 2024 Moon Phases and Dates
Moon Phase Date
New moon Dec. 1
First quarter Dec. 8
Full moon Dec. 15
Third/last quarter Dec. 22
The phases of the moon trace the passage of time in the night sky. Some nights when we see the moon, it is full and bright; sometimes it is just a sliver of silvery light. These changes in appearance are the phases of the moon. As the moon orbits Earth, it goes through eight distinct phases.
The moon’s four primary phases (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter) occur about a week apart, with the full moon being its brightest phase.
While the moon has four primary phases each month, it is always changing. As you watch the moon during the month, watch how it grows from a new moon to a first quarter moon. As it grows, it is known as a waxing moon, and gradually grows from a waxing “crescent” (for its shape) to a first quarter moon. As it continues to brighten, it takes on an oblong, or “gibbous” shape until it reaches the full moon phase. Then it will repeat, reversing the phases on its way back to the new moon.
