Moon Phase Update: Waxing Crescent Illuminates October 24 Night

The moon is currently in the Waxing Crescent phase as of October 24, 2023. This phase marks the third day of the new lunar cycle, with only 8% of the moon illuminated tonight, according to data from NASA’s Daily Moon Observation. Unfortunately, this limited illumination makes it challenging to observe the moon clearly.

Understanding Moon Phases

Moon phases, including the current Waxing Crescent, are a result of the moon’s orbit around Earth, which takes approximately 29.5 days to complete. As the moon travels in its orbit, the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth shift, leading to variations in how much of the moon is illuminated from our perspective.

During this cycle, the moon will gradually become more visible until it reaches the next full moon on November 5, 2023. The moon phases are categorized into eight distinct stages, which repeat throughout the lunar cycle:

• New Moon: The moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, resulting in an invisible phase.
• Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light is visible on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).
• First Quarter: Half of the moon’s surface is illuminated, resembling a half-moon.
• Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit up, but it is not yet full.
• 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.
• Third Quarter: Another half-moon, this time with the left side illuminated.
• Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before it returns to the New Moon phase.

Observers can look forward to witnessing the moon’s progression in the days to come, with increasing visibility leading up to the full moon in early November. As the cycle continues, the changing appearance of the moon provides not only a scientific phenomenon but also a source of inspiration and wonder for many around the world.