What is the Moon Tonight? Understanding the Waning Gibbous Phase

Have you glanced at the sky recently and wondered, “What Is The Moon Tonight?” Tonight, and in the early morning hours of February 19, 2025, the Moon is in its Waning Gibbous phase. This lunar phase is a beautiful sight, visible in the western sky as dawn approaches. It marks the transition after the Full Moon and is a fascinating part of the Moon’s monthly cycle.

The Waning Gibbous phase is characterized by the Moon’s illumination gradually decreasing each day. Following the brilliance of the Full Moon, this phase lasts for approximately seven days, leading up to the Last Quarter Moon when the illumination reaches 50%. During the Waning Gibbous, you’ll typically see the Moon rising later each night, generally between 9 pm and midnight, depending on how far along it is in this phase. It will then set after sunrise, gracing the early morning sky.

To get a complete picture of the lunar phases throughout February 2025, you can visit the February 2025 Moon Phases Calendar. This calendar provides a day-by-day view of the Moon’s transformation throughout the entire month.

Observing the Waning Gibbous Phase on February 19th

On February 19th, the Waning Gibbous phase is showing a 62% illumination. This percentage represents the portion of the Moon’s surface that is lit by the Sun as seen from Earth. It’s important to remember that this illumination is dynamic, changing by as much as 10% daily as the Moon progresses in its orbit. On this particular day, the Moon is 21.01 days into its cycle. This “age” of the moon refers to the number of days elapsed since the last New Moon. The entire lunar cycle, from one New Moon to the next, takes approximately 29.53 days to complete, encompassing all eight distinct Moon phases.

Moon Sign for Today: Scorpio’s Influence

In addition to its phase, the Moon also moves through the zodiac signs. Currently, the Moon is in the zodiac sign of Scorpio, positioned at 16.14°. It entered Scorpio on Loading… and will move into Sagittarius on Loading…. The zodiac moon sign indicates the Moon’s location against the backdrop of constellations as viewed from Earth. Each zodiac sign occupies a portion of the sky, and the Moon spends about 2 to 2.5 days traversing each one. Astrologically, the Moon sign is believed to influence emotions and instincts.

Exploring the 8 Lunar Phases

The Moon’s journey through its 29.53-day cycle involves eight primary lunar phases. The four major phases are easily recognizable: the Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter, and Last Quarter. Between these major phases lie four minor phases: Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into the lunar cycle and the characteristics of each phase, the Wikipedia Lunar Phase page offers comprehensive information.

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