The Full Moon is just around the corner, so there's plenty of things to spot on the surface, with or without visual aids.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Sunday, Nov. 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. There will be 87% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
Even without any visual aids, there’s plenty to spot tonight, including the Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Imbrium, and the Kepler Crater. With a pair of binoculars, you can make out the Gassendi Crater, the Apennine Mountains, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, pull it out to see the Rima Ariadaeus, the Apollo 15, and the Gruithuisen Domes.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.
What are moon phases?
According to NASA, the moon moves through its phases as it completes a 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The phases we see are caused by the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. From Earth, the moon can appear full, partly lit, or seem to disappear entirely, but it’s always the same side facing us. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, depending on where it is in orbit. This pattern is known as 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.
