Moon Phase Today: In the rising gibbous phase of your lunar cycle, 48% illuminated

Science: Today, Jan. 7, 2025, the moon is 8 days into the waxing gibbous phase of its lunar cycle. It is 48% illuminated.

January 2025 Moon Phases and Dates
Moon Phase Date
First quarter Jan. 6
Full moon Jan. 13
Third/last quarter Jan. 21
New moon Jan. 29
The phases of the moon show the passage of time in the night sky. Some nights when we look at 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 state While the moon has four primary phases each month, it is always changing. As you observe the moon during the month, watch how it grows from new moon to first quarter moon. As it grows, it is known as the waxing moon, and grows from a “crescent” (for its shape in the first quarter moon) to a gradually growing “gibbous moon”. As it continues to brighten, it takes on an oblong, or “gibbous” shape by the time it reaches the full moon phase. It will then repeat the phases in reverse as it returns to the new moon.