Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on December 10
The moon is changing each night as it moves through the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle is a series of eight phases of the moon's visibility. Today, we're on day 20 of the cycle. Keep reading to find out what this means for tonight's moon.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Wednesday, Dec. 10, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 64% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
If you don't have any visual aids, don't worry, there's still lots for you to spot tonight. Features like the Mare Vaporum, Copernicus Crater, and Aristarchus Plateau should all be visible. If you have binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, Clavius Crater, and the Alps Mountains. For the lucky ones with a telescope, even more comes into sight, with potential glimpses of the Caucasus Mountains, Fra Mauro Highlands, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
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When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.
What are moon phases?
NASA says the Moon goes through a cycle of about 29.5 days, and during that time we see its different phases. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the sunlight hitting it changes as it orbits Earth. That’s what makes it look full, half-lit, or sometimes completely hidden. The cycle has eight main phases:
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.
