Last Quarter
Next occurrence (UTC):
Typical illumination: 50%
Last quarter (also called third quarter) is the half-moon phase after full moon. We see the opposite half lit compared with first quarter — the left half in the Northern Hemisphere.
How it looks
Again a sharp terminator crosses the disk. Craters and mountains near the day–night line stand out in relief, making it another favorite for telescope users.
When it is visible
Last quarter rises around midnight, is high before dawn, and sets around midday. It is primarily a morning moon.
Geometry
Phase longitude is near 270°. The Sun–Earth–Moon angle is again roughly 90°, but on the other side of the orbit from first quarter.