On August 12, Aug. 12 -- The moon is working against stargazers again tonight. Four to five days past the Sturgeon Full Moon that peaked on August 7 to 8, the Waning Gibbous is still bright enough to wash out faint sky objects - but for anyone who simply wants to look up, it remains one of the more rewarding sights in the summer sky.

the moon is heading toward its Last Quarter, expected around August 14 to 15, when exactly half the disc will be illuminated. The New Moon follows on approximately August 22 to 23, when the lunar cycle resets.

Tonight the moon rises before sunset across most of the northern hemisphere and climbs into a usable position well before midnight. It will remain high in the sky through the early morning hours befor...