If you've ever wondered why the moon looks a little different each night, it’s all down to its phases in the lunar cycle. Tonight we're on day 19 of the cycle, keep reading to find out what this means
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Sunday, Nov. 9, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 78% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
What can you see tonight? Well, without visual aids you should be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Vaporum. If you have binoculars, you'll see all this plus the Grimaldi Basin, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Frigoris. Telescope owners will get an extra treat, with the Reiner Gamma, Rima Ariadaeus, and Rupes Altai (Altai Scarp) all coming into view.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.
What are moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 29.5 days, passing through distinct phases along the way. These phases happen due to the shifting angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. From our perspective, the Moon may look fully bright, partially lit, or entirely dark, though the same side always faces us. The difference is in how sunlight reflects off its surface, forming a regular pattern called the lunar cycle.
The eight main moon phases are:
New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
