Get ready to witness a celestial spectacle tonight, October 12, 2025, as the moon puts on its final act in the Waning Gibbous phase before gracefully transitioning to a half moon. But here's the fascinating part: while the moon's illuminated portion is shrinking each night, there’s still plenty to marvel at—if you know where to look. So, what exactly can you see tonight? Let’s dive in.
What’s happening with the moon today?
As of Sunday, October 12, the moon is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with only 64% of its surface bathed in sunlight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation. And this is the part most people miss: even with the naked eye, you can spot stunning features like the Aristarchus Plateau, the Mare Imbrium, and the Mare Vaporum. Grab a pair of binoculars, and you’ll unlock views of the Grimaldi Basin, the Apennine Mountains, and the Alps Mountains. For the astronomy enthusiasts with telescopes, tonight’s highlight includes the Apollo 12 landing site, Reiner Gamma, and the Schiller Crater. Talk about a cosmic treasure hunt!
When can we expect the next full moon?
Mark your calendars for November 5, when the moon will once again shine in all its glory, fully illuminated and dominating the night sky.
But what exactly are moon phases?
Here’s where it gets intriguing: the moon doesn’t just randomly change its appearance. NASA explains that it cycles through eight distinct phases during its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. These changes occur because the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in constant motion relative to one another. From our perspective on Earth, the moon can appear fully lit, partially illuminated, or even completely dark—though we always see the same side. The key difference each night is how much sunlight is reflecting off its surface.
Let’s break down the eight main moon phases:
- New Moon: The moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, leaving the side facing us in complete darkness—essentially invisible to the naked eye.
- Waxing Crescent: A slender sliver of light emerges on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere), marking the moon’s re-emergence.
- First Quarter: Half of the moon’s right side is illuminated, creating the iconic half-moon shape.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon is lit, but it’s not quite a full moon yet—think of it as the moon’s ‘almost there’ phase.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is bathed in sunlight, appearing as a dazzling, fully illuminated disk.
- Waning Gibbous: The moon begins to lose light on its right side, signaling the start of its journey back to darkness.
- Last Quarter (or Third Quarter): Another half-moon, but this time the left side is lit, as the moon continues its descent.
- Waning Crescent: A thin, fading sliver of light clings to the left side before the moon disappears into darkness once more.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While most of us are familiar with these phases, some cultures and ancient civilizations interpreted them in wildly different ways. Did they see the moon’s cycles as omens, or were they simply tracking time? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a cosmic conversation!
