Tonight, November 14, 2025, the moon is in its Waning Crescent phase. This means it appears as a diminishing sliver of light in the sky, signaling the approaching New Moon. Currently, approximately 27% of the moon’s surface is illuminated, making it a subtle yet observable presence.
What You Can See Tonight
Without optical aids, keen observers can distinguish features like the Kepler Crater and the Oceanus Procellarum. For those with binoculars, the Grimaldi Basin becomes visible toward the lower left (or upper right for Southern Hemisphere viewers). Telescopes reveal even finer details, including the Schiller Crater and the Apollo 12 landing site.
The Lunar Cycle Explained
Moon phases aren’t random; they follow a predictable 29.5-day cycle determined by the moon’s orbit around Earth. We always see the same side of the moon, but the amount illuminated by the sun changes as it orbits, creating the phases we observe.
The Eight Main Moon Phases
The lunar cycle consists of eight distinct phases:
- New Moon: The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, rendering the side facing us dark and invisible to the naked eye.
- Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light emerges on the right side (Northern Hemisphere), growing with each passing night.
- First Quarter: Half of the moon is illuminated, resembling a half-moon shape.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon is lit, nearing full illumination.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is brightly lit, creating a spectacular nighttime display.
- Waning Gibbous: The moon begins to lose light on the right side, shrinking toward the next quarter phase.
- Third Quarter (Last Quarter): Half of the moon is lit again, but this time on the left side.
- Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before disappearing entirely, signaling the return to the New Moon.
Looking Ahead: The Next Full Moon
The next full moon will occur on December 4, marking the peak of the lunar cycle before it begins its descent toward the next New Moon. The moon’s phases are a constant reminder of the celestial mechanics governing our night sky
