Tonight’s Moon is mostly dark, but it still has plenty to show if you know where to look. The Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase as of Sunday, Oct. 4, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker. About 42% of its surface is visible, and the rest is shadow.
What You Can See Tonight
Without any gear, you can spot the Oceanus Procellarum, the Kepler Crater and the Tycho Crater. Those three features stand out even to the naked eye, which makes this a good night for beginners who want to learn the Moon’s landmarks.
Binoculars open the door to more. They reveal the Grimaldi Basin and the Mare Humorum, two spots that reward a closer look. Neither requires a telescope, so a pair of modest binoculars is enough to see them clearly.
A telescope carries the view further. The Apollo 14 landing spot sits within sight, along with the Schiller Crater. Both are small features, and spotting them requires patience and a steady hand, but they are there for anyone willing to hunt for them.
The Moon is currently past the Third Quarter phase, which means more than half of its visible surface is in darkness. It will continue to wane over the coming nights until the New Moon arrives.
The Eight Phases, One Cycle
The Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, and each pass brings a new shape. The cycle starts at the New Moon, when the Moon is between Earth and the sun and its far side faces us. From there, the phases unfold in order:
- New Moon: The Moon is dark, hidden behind the sun.
- Waxing Crescent: A thin sliver of light appears on the right side.
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon is lit on the right side, a half-Moon shape.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit, but it’s not quite full yet.
- Full Moon: The whole face is illuminated and fully visible.
- Waning Gibbous: The Moon starts losing light on the right side.
- 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.
Each phase depends on the Moon’s position relative to Earth and the Sun. The shape changes because the Sun’s light hits the Moon from different angles as it moves along its orbit.
The Next Full Moon Date
The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone. That date lands near the end of the current lunar month, so the Moon will spend the coming nights getting smaller before it disappears entirely at the New Moon.
After that, the cycle repeats. The Moon will move through the same eight phases in the same order, month after month, year after year.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
- Today’s phase: Waning Crescent, 42% of surface visible
- Next Full Moon: October 25 or 26
- Cycle length: About 29.5 days
- Visible tonight: Oceanus Procellarum, Kepler Crater, Tycho Crater
- Binocular targets: Grimaldi Basin, Mare Humorum
- Telescope targets: Apollo 14 landing spot, Schiller Crater
This is a simple check, but it comes with a free tour of the Moon’s surface. The Moon is always up there, changing shape day by day, and tonight’s Waning Crescent is a quiet moment to step outside and watch it happen.
Source material: “Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on October 4, 2026,” Mashable.
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