We’ve reached the First Quarter Moon tonight, meaning we’re halfway between the New Moon and the Full. Keep reading to find out what this means.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Wednesday, Oct. 29, the moon phase is First Quarter. There will be 49% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.
The moon is getting brighter each night, so there’s always something to see right now. Tonight you should be able to see the Mare Vaporum, the Mare Fecunditatis, and the Mare Serenitatis.
Grab a pair of binoculars to see even more, including the Endymion Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Apennine Mountains. Add a telescope to see the Apollo 16 and 17 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
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 phases as it completes its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause the different phases we observe. From Earth, the moon can look full, partially lit, or even disappear entirely, but we always see the same side. What changes is the amount of sunlight reflected from its surface, depending on its position in orbit.
The eight main moon phases are:
Mashable Light Speed
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.
