The moon is radiating brightly this evening, so let’s discover what we can observe on the 10th day of the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle comprises eight phases of the moon. NASA clarifies that these stages occur as the Sun illuminates distinct sections of the moon while it revolves around our planet. The cycle typically spans approximately 29.5 days.

Keep reading to learn what you can witness when you gaze upward tonight, Oct. 1.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Wednesday, Oct. 1, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, 65% of its surface is illuminated this evening.

More than half of the moon is lit up tonight, providing ample sights to behold. You won’t require any visual tools to identify the Mare Crisium, the Mare Vaporum, and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars, you can also observe the Archimedes Crater, Endymion Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope on hand, set it up to view the Linne Crater, Apollo 12 landing site, and the Descartes Highlands.

When will the next full moon occur?

The upcoming full moon will take place on Oct. 7. The last full moon occurred on Sept. 7.

What are the phases of the moon?

As stated by NASA, the moon’s phases are part of its 29.5-day journey around Earth. As the moon travels, the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth shift, producing the phases we see. From our viewpoint, the moon can appear full, can seem to completely disappear, but we always observe the same side. What alters is the amount of sunlight reflected off its surface, based on its orbital position.

This is how we experience full moons, half moons, and moons that seem entirely invisible. There are eight primary moon phases, and they adhere to a cyclical pattern:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, thus the side we perceive is dark (in other words, it’s unseen by the eyes).

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

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

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is illuminated, yet it isn’t entirely full.

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

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose light on the right side.

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

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