Wondering where the moon is headed? This is a result of the lunar cycle, during which every night, a little less is lit until it disappears entirely at the New Moon.

What is the current moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 16, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This indicates that 12% of the moon is visible tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

There’s not much to observe tonight, but if you pay attention, you may notice a few features. Without any optical tools, you can see the Aristarchus Plateau, which is a 25-mile diameter crater. With binoculars, you can also observe the Grimaldi Basin, and with a telescope, the Reiner Gamma will become visible.

When will the next full moon occur?

The next full moon is scheduled for Dec. 4.

What do moon phases mean?

Moon phases, such as the Waning Crescent, are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, as stated by NASA. These phases represent how the moon appears from Earth while it orbits our planet. We always observe the same side of the moon, but the amount lit by the Sun alters depending on its orbital position. Thus, it sometimes appears full, sometimes half, and sometimes not visible at all (New Moon). There are eight primary moon phases that follow a recurring cycle:

The eight primary moon phases include:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering the side we see dark (invisible).

Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light emerges on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter – Half of the moon is illuminated on the right side, resembling a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, yet not completely full.

Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-moon, but now the left side is illuminated.

Waning Crescent – A slim sliver of light lingers on the left side before it goes dark again.