David Bridges
Highlights
- Current Phase: The moon is currently in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 16% visibility.
- Next Full Moon: The next full moon will occur on December 4, marking the end of three consecutive supermoons.
- Lunar Visibility: Tonight, the Fecunditatis and Crisium Mares are visible with the naked eye.
- Eight Phases: There are eight distinct phases in the lunar cycle, each marking a different appearance of the moon.
The moon is working towards being full again, and on day four of the lunar cycle it’s already looking bigger in the sky. Keep reading to see what you can spot on its surface tonight.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Monday, Nov. 24, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means 16% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation. The Waxing Crescent phase indicates that a small sliver of light is visible on the right side of the moon.
With just the naked eye, tonight you’ll be able to see the Fecunditatis and Crisium Mares. With binoculars or a telescope, you’ll also be able to spot the Endymion Crater in the top right corner. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, this will be positioned in the bottom left.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Dec. 4; this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5, making the upcoming full moon significant in the lunar calendar.
What are moon phases?
According to NASA, moon phases are what make up the lunar cycle, a repeating cycle that lasts around 29.5 days. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. We always see the same side of the moon, but the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely.
There are eight moon phases:
- 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.
