The moon is slowly reemerging as we near the full moon in November. We are currently on the third day of the new lunar cycle, so keep reading to find out more.

What is the moon phase today?

As of Friday, Oct. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This evening, 8% of the moon will be lit, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

Sadly, there’s still not enough light to see much. Check back tomorrow.

When is the upcoming full moon?

The upcoming full moon will take place on Nov. 5.

What are the phases of the moon?

Per NASA, moon phases, like Waxing Crescent, result from the moon’s 29.5-day orbital cycle. This cycle occurs as the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth change. Moon phases indicate how the moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We always observe the same side of the moon, but the portion lit by the Sun changes based on its orbital position. This results in full moons, half moons, and moons that appear to be absent. There are eight key moon phases, repeating in a cycle.

The eight primary moon phases include:

New Moon – The moon locates itself between Earth and the sun, so the side visible to us is dark (invisible).

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

First Quarter – The right side of the moon is illuminated, forming a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, although it’s not yet complete.

Full Moon – The entire surface of the moon is illuminated and entirely visible.

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

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

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