Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on November 17, 2025

Visibility has almost completely disappeared this evening, which can only mean one thing: we are close to the New Moon. Keep reading to see what, if anything, you can spot on the moon’s surface tonight.

What is the moon phase today?

Since Monday, November 17, the phase of the moon is the waning crescent. That means 7% of the Moon is illuminated tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation.

Unfortunately, to see anything on the moon tonight, you’ll need the help of a visual aid. With binoculars or a telescope, you should be able to see the Grimaldi basin.

When will the next full moon be?

The next full moon will be on December 4.

What are moon phases?

The phases of the Moon are all part of a 29.5 day lunar cycle, according to NASA. These phases describe how the Moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes throughout its orbit. So sometimes it seems full, sometimes half, and sometimes not at all (i.e. New Moon). There are eight main phases of the moon, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main phases of the moon are:

New Moon – The Moon sits between the Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the naked eye).

Waxed Crescent – ​​A small burst 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, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon – The entire face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous – The moon begins to lose 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 turning dark again.