Tonight’s Moon: Waning Gibbous Illuminates the November Sky
Skywatchers will observe a Waning Gibbous moon on November 10, 2025, with approximately 68% of its surface illuminated. This phase offers excellent opportunities for observing lunar features with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope.
Understanding moon phases connects us to a celestial rhythm impacting cultures for millennia and driving scientific inquiry today. The predictable cycle influences everything from tides to animal behavior, and observing the moon remains a universally accessible and captivating experience.
According to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation, the waning Gibbous phase signifies that the moon is moving past its full phase and beginning to lose illumination. Observers can readily identify the Aristarchus Plateau, Mare Imbrium, and Copernicus Crater without any equipment. Binoculars will reveal the Mare Humorum, Gassendi Crater, and Clavius Crater, while telescopes will provide detailed views of the Schiller Crater, the Rima Hyginus, and the Apollo 14 landing site.
The moon completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 29.5 days, cycling through eight distinct phases resolute by the changing angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. These phases are:
* New Moon: The moon is between Earth and the sun, appearing dark.
* 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.
* Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit, but not yet full.
* Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is illuminated.
* Waning Gibbous: The moon begins losing light on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
* Third Quarter (or Last Quarter): The left side is lit.
* Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before becoming dark again.
The next full moon is scheduled for December 4, 2025.Resources from NASA, including the daily Moon Observation and facts on moon phases, are available at https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-observation/daily-moon-guide/?intent=011 and https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/#hds-sidebar-nav-9.
