Tonight, October 5, 2025, offers a superb opportunity for stargazers. While it won’t appear fully round, the moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase, displaying an impressive 96% of its surface illuminated. This makes it a prime time for observing lunar features, even with simple equipment.
Tonight’s Lunar Display: A Waxing Gibbous Moon
The Waxing Gibbous phase occurs when the moon is more than half lit but hasn’t yet reached its full phase. As of tonight, nearly all of the moon’s surface will be visible, providing a rich canvas for observation. NASA’s Daily Moon Observation highlights several features visible without a telescope:
- Copernicus Crater: A prominent, young impact crater.
- Aristarchus Plateau: Known for its bright, volcanic features.
- Mare Tranquillitatis (“Sea of Tranquility”): The site of the Apollo 11 landing.
Beyond the Naked Eye:
With the aid of binoculars, more details emerge:
- Apennine Mountains: A rugged mountain range along the lunar east.
- Mare Frigoris (“Sea of Cold”): A large, dark lunar mare.
- Endymion Crater: A unique crater with a terraced inner wall.
For Telescope Users:
For those with access to a telescope, even more intricate lunar details can be observed, including the Apollo 16 and 17 landing sites and the Rima Ariadaeus, a sinuous rille (lunar channel).
Moon Phases Explained: The Monthly Cycle
The moon’s changing appearance, or phases, is a result of its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. This cycle isn’t a perfect circle; it’s an ellipse, which contributes to variations in the moon’s orbital speed. The different phases we observe are dictated by the changing angles between the sun, Earth, and moon. It’s important to understand that we always see the same side of the moon ; what changes is the portion of the sunlit surface reflected towards Earth.
Here’s a breakdown of the eight primary lunar phases:
- New Moon: The moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, making its sunlit side facing away from us. Consequently, the moon is invisible to the naked eye.
- Waxing Crescent: A thin, crescent-shaped sliver of light begins to appear on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere). “Waxing” means growing.
- First Quarter: Half of the moon’s visible face is illuminated—a half-moon on the right.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the moon is lit, but not yet fully round.
- Full Moon: The entire face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
- Waning Gibbous: After the full moon, the illuminated portion begins to decrease on the right side. “Waning” means shrinking.
- Last Quarter (or Third Quarter): Another half-moon appears, but now the left side is illuminated.
- Waning Crescent: The illuminated sliver continues to shrink until the cycle begins anew with the New Moon.
Upcoming Lunar Events
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Full Moon on October 7, 2025. This follows the previous Full Moon that occurred on September 7, 2025, providing a useful reference for understanding the lunar cycle’s pace.
Observing the moon is a timeless pastime accessible to everyone. Whether you use your eyes alone, a pair of binoculars, or a powerful telescope, the moon holds a wealth of fascinating details waiting to be discovered.
Tonight’s Waxing Gibbous moon provides a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the moon’s beauty and complexity. Take advantage of the clear skies and enjoy the lunar view
