After its half-illuminated third quarter phase today, the light will continue to wane until the moon is completely dark on Friday (May 19). This will mark the start of a new 29.5-day lunar cycle ...

For that reason it's also known as the third quarter moon. ADVERTISEMENT This diagram illustrates the primary and best-known lunar phases we'll see this month and through mid-August.

-On Dec. 5, the moon entered its Third Quarter phase where half the moon's Earth-facing side appears illuminated as the moon wanes toward a New Moon. -On Dec. 12, a New Moon rose, with the moon's ...

The moon will be in its third quarter phase on Friday, May 12, with its face half-lit, halfway between its fully illuminated full moon phase and its completely dark new moon phase.

The third-quarter moon is ahead of Earth in its yearly journey around the sun Earth lags behind the moon by approximately 3.5 hours.