Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on October 7
This month's full moon falls on different days, depending on where you are in the world. In E.T., the full moon will reach its peak late in the day, 11:47 p.m. on Oct. 6. However, in BST, the peak occurs at 4:47 a.m. on Oct. 7, according to Time And Date. The moon this month is the Harvest Moon, as it's the closest to the Autumn Equinox.
With such a big and bright moon in the sky tonight, there'll be lots to see. Keep reading to find out what you can see when you look up on Oct. 7.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Monday, Oct. 7, the moon phase is Full Moon; this means it is 100% lit up. NASA's Daily Moon Observation confirms this.
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It's also a supermoon tonight, so it will be brighter and bigger than normal. With just your naked eye, there's plenty for you to spot, including the Mare Imbrium, the Mare Fecunditatis, and the Copernicus Crater. With binoculars, it is also possible to see the Gassendi Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Apennine Mountains.
Finally, if you add a telescope to your lineup, you'll see the Apollo 15 and 16 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 as follows:
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.
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.
