This evening, only a slender crescent of the moon is observable, providing limited visibility. This scenario will persist for the upcoming days as we approach and transition past the New Moon.

What is the current moon phase?

As of Saturday, Oct. 18, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, merely 8% of the moon will be illuminated this evening.

There’s not a lot to witness tonight, but with binoculars or a telescope, you may spot the Grimaldi Basin, an impact basin spanning 124 miles.

When is the forthcoming full moon?

The next full moon is scheduled for Nov. 5.

What do moon phases entail?

The Moon experiences a continuous cycle lasting approximately 29.5 days as it revolves around Earth. These variations occur due to the changing positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon in relation to one another. From our vantage point on Earth, the Moon may appear full, partially illuminated, or entirely dark, but the same side is always directed towards us. What shifts nightly is the quantity of sunlight that reaches and reflects off its surface.

The eight primary moon phases consist of:

New Moon – The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, resulting in the side we can see being dark (invisible to the naked 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, looking like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit, yet it isn’t completely full.

Full Moon – The whole face of the moon is bright and entirely visible.

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

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

Waning Crescent – A narrow sliver of light lingers on the left side before it turns dark once more.