The surface of the moon is a dazzling sight tonight, a refreshing view after several days of limited visibility. We’re currently on the sixth day of the new lunar cycle, so keep reading to find out what you can witness tonight.
What is the moon phase today?
As of Monday, Oct. 27, the moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase. This evening, 30% of the moon will be illuminated, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
Even without visual aids, you should be able to catch a glimpse of Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, and Mare Tranquillitatis tonight. If you use binoculars, you’ll see even more details, including the Endymion Crater, Mare Nectaris, and the Posidonius Crater. With a telescope, you should also be able to identify the Apollo 11 and 17 landing sites, as well as the Rupes Altai.
When will the next full moon occur?
The upcoming full moon is set for Nov. 5.
What are the phases of the moon?
NASA describes that the moon experiences phases as it completes its orbit around Earth, which takes approximately 29.5 days. The varying angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth lead to the different phases we see. From our perspective on Earth, the moon can appear full, partially illuminated, or even vanish altogether, but we consistently observe the same side. What alters is the amount of sunlight reflected from its surface, which varies based on its orbital position.
The eight primary phases of the moon are:
New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, resulting in the side visible to us being dark (essentially, it’s invisible).
Waxing Crescent – A small fraction of light becomes visible on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – The right hemisphere of the moon is illuminated, appearing as a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half of the moon is lit, but it hasn’t reached full illumination yet.
Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is bright and fully observable.
Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to decrease in light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-moon, but here the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A slender line of light remains on the left side before it becomes dark once more.