Understanding the phases of the moon is a fascinating way to connect with the natural world. Today, February 19, 2025, the moon is in its Waning Gibbous phase. This lunar phase follows the Full Moon and is characterized by a decreasing amount of illumination each night as we move towards the Last Quarter Moon. You can typically spot the Waning Gibbous moon in the early morning hours, hanging in the western sky.
Delving Deeper into the Waning Gibbous Phase
On February 19th, the Waning Gibbous moon is illuminated by approximately 62%. This percentage represents the portion of the moon’s surface catching sunlight from our perspective on Earth. The illumination is not static; it changes daily, sometimes by as much as 10%. Today, the moon is roughly 21 days into its current lunar cycle, measured from the last New Moon. A complete lunar cycle, encompassing all 8 phases, takes about 29.53 days as the Moon orbits our planet.
Moon Sign Today: Scorpio
In astrology, the moon’s position in the zodiac is also significant. Currently, the moon is in the sign of Scorpio, positioned at 17.15°. The Moon entered Scorpio on Loading… and will move into Sagittarius on Loading…. The zodiac moon sign shifts approximately every 2 to 2.5 days as the moon traverses the zodiac belt.
The Eight Phases of the Moon
The Moon progresses through eight distinct phases during its 29.53-day cycle. The primary phases are the Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, and Last Quarter. In between these major phases lie the minor phases: Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent. To learn more about the complete cycle and each individual phase, Wikipedia offers a comprehensive resource on the Lunar Phase page.
