The moon is in its "waning" phase, with each night less and less visible. This will continue until the new moon, and the start of a new lunar cycle.
Keep reading to see what's happening with the moon tonight, Oct. 11
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Friday, Oct. 11, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, only 74% will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
What can you see tonight? Well, if you look close enough, without any visual aids, you can spot the Oceanus Procellarum, the Mare Serenitatis, and the Mare Vaporum. Binoculars will increase your visibility, adding the Grimaldi Basin, the Posidonius Crater, and the Gassendi Crater to your lineup. And if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 12 and 17 landing spots and the Linne Crater.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.
What are moon phases?
We mention moon phases a lot, but what actually are they? NASA tells us that as the Moon completes its 29.5-day orbit around Earth, it passes through a series of eight phases. These changes happen because the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon relative to each other shift over time. From Earth, we see the Moon as fully bright, partially lit, or completely dark, but the same side always faces us. The differences in appearance come from how much sunlight hits its surface at each point in its orbit.
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)
Last Quarter (or Third 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.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time.
Lois also holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.
