Moon Phase and Libration 2025

This visualization shows the Moon's phase at hourly intervals throughout 2025as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. 2025 phase and libration as viewed from the Southern Hemisphere are available here:

Phase and Libration 2025 (Southern Hemisphere View)

The Moon always keeps the same face to usbut not exactly the same face. Because of the tilt and shape of its orbitwe see the Moon from slightly different angles over the course of a month. When a month is compressed into 24 secondsas it is in this animationour changing view of the Moon makes it look like it's wobbling. This wobble is called librationfrom librathe scale.

Supplemental graphics show the Moon's orbitsubsolar and sub-Earth points and the Moon's distance from Earth at true scale. Craters near the terminator are labeledas are Apollo landing sites and maria and other albedo features in sunlight.

To view the Moon's phase and libration in previous yearsvisit:

Moon Phase and Libration Gallery (NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio)