Today’s moon phase: The appearance of the moon on November 4.
It might look like it, but the moon isn’t quite full yet. But we’re almost there. There’s still lots to see on tonight’s moon though, so keep reading.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Monday, Nov. 4, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. There will be 98% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
The moon is so close to full, and there’s so much to see. For those looking up without any visual aids, you’ll see the Tycho and Copernicus Craters and the Mare Crisium. With binoculars, you have a particularly high chance of seeing the Gassendi and Archimedes Craters and the Mare Frigoris. If you have a telescope, you’ll also see the Linne Crater, the Apollo 11 landing spot, as well as the Fra Mauro Highlands.
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When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.
What are moon phases?
NASA explains that the moon goes through different phases as it travels around Earth over roughly 29.5 days. The phases result from the shifting angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. From our viewpoint, the moon can look fully lit, partially lit, or even vanish from sight, though we always see the same side. What changes is the amount of sunlight bouncing off its surface depending on its position in orbit; a repeating 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.
