Moon phase today explained: What the moon will look like on December 9, 2025
It’s day 19 of the lunar cycle, and the moon is edging toward a new phase—the Third Quarter. From here on, the Moon will progressively shrink night by night until it’s entirely invisible during the New Moon. But what exactly is visible on night 19? Here’s the scoop.
What is today’s moon phase?
As of Tuesday, December 9, the Moon is in a Waning Gibbous phase, meaning about 73% of its surface is illuminated tonight, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Observation. With more than half of the Moon still bright, there’s plenty to see without any optical aid.
If you’re looking up unaided, keep an eye out for Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility), Tycho Crater, and Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms). If you have binoculars handy, you can spot Gassendi Crater, Clavius Crater, and the Alpine region known as the Alps Mountains. For more serious observers with a telescope, you’ll also be able to view the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 landing sites and the lunar feature Reiner Gamma.
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When is the next full moon?
The upcoming full Moon occurs on January 3.
What are moon phases?
NASA explains that the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle comprises the Moon’s phases, describing how the Moon looks from Earth as it orbits. We always see the same hemisphere of the Moon, but the sunlight hitting its surface changes, creating appearances that range from full to dark. The cycle includes eight distinct phases:
New Moon — The Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, so the side facing us is dark and effectively invisible.
Waxing Crescent — A thin sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter — Half of the Moon is lit on the right side, giving a half-moon appearance.
Waxing Gibbous — More than half is illuminated, but not yet full.
Full Moon — The entire face is bright and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous — The Moon begins to shed light from the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
Third Quarter (Last Quarter) — Again a half-moon, but now the left side is illuminated.
Waning Crescent — A slender crescent remains on the left before darkness returns.
If you’d like more details or want to plan a moon-watching session, share your location and equipment level, and the sky you can expect in your area.
