Now that the full moon has passed, the moon will be getting less visible each night until the New Moon. This is called the lunar cycle.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Thursday, Nov. 6, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 98% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
The moon is still big and bright in the sky tonight, so there's so much you'll be able to spot, if the clouds stay away. If you look up, without any visual aids, you can still see the Tycho Crater, Mare Vaporum, and the Mare Serenitatis. If you have a pair of binoculars you'll also see the Clavius Crater, Mare Humorum, and the Mare Frigoris. Finally, with a telescope you'll spot the Apollo 14 and 17 landing spots, as well as the Rima Ariadaeus, a fracture system caused by rising magma.
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When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.
What are moon phases?
NASA notes that as the Moon orbits Earth over about 29.5 days, it goes through a series of phases. These phases occur because of the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Depending on its position, the Moon can appear fully illuminated, partly illuminated, or completely hidden, even though we always see the same side. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, creating a repeating sequence 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.
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.
