Believe it or not, there’s still a trace of moonlight tonight. It’s merely the faintest sliver, making it nearly impossible to see anything on the surface.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 19, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This indicates that 1% of the moon is lit up tonight, as per NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

There isn’t enough illumination on the moon tonight to observe anything. Once the next lunar cycle begins, it will gradually become visible again.

When is the next full moon?

The upcoming full moon will take place on Dec. 4, marking the conclusion of three consecutive supermoons. The previous full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are elements of a recurring lunar cycle that lasts approximately 29.5 days, according to NASA. They illustrate the moon’s appearance from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we continuously see the same side of the moon, the sunlight that reflects off it varies throughout its orbit. This is why it sometimes appears full, sometimes half, and at times vanishes completely (the New Moon). There are eight primary moon phases:

New Moon – The moon is situated between Earth and the sun, leaving the side we view dark (invisible to the eye).

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 illuminated, though it isn’t fully lit yet.

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

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

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-moon appears, but this time the left side is lit.

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