Watch the first penumbral first quarter moon of 2023 rise tonight

userJanuary 28, 2023

On Saturday, January 28, sky watchers will be able to see the first quarter of the year, when the Moon appears half lit from Earth’s perspective.

Through the United States, month will rise late in the morning and be visible until sunset around midnight in about 1 or 2 hours, depending on your specific location. In New York, the moon will rise at 10:53 a.m. EST (1553 GMT) and set at 12:40 a.m. EST (0540 GMT) on January 29, according to the skywatching site In-the-sky.org (opens in a new tab).

Although you can see the moon during sunlight, the best time to look at it is after sunset. Sunset in New York City is at 5:07 PM EST (1007 GMT). At this moment, the Moon will be at an altitude of 62 degrees in the southeast sky. (Remember: Your fist extended at arm’s length is about 10 degrees in the sky.)

On the subject: What is the phase of the moon today? Moon phases 2023

The phase of the first quarter is one of the four lunar cycle during the rotation around the Earth, which lasts 29.5 days. We’ve already experienced three other phases this month: the full moon on January 6, the last quarter on January 14, and the new moon on January 21, which marked New Year according to the lunar calendar commonly celebrated around the world.

The next full Snow Moon for moon watchers will be on February 5th, but before then you’ll have a chance to see the comet. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is now visible. in the night sky, and it will reach perigee, or its closest point to Earth during its orbit, on February 1.

If you want to photograph the moon during its first quarter, check out our useful material how to photograph the moon guide to the best moon photography tips and tricks. We also have guides for best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography if you need to prepare for this or other celestial events, including the close approach of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF).

Editor’s note: If you took a photo of the Moon during its first quarter phase and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

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