When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
The moon reaches its first quarter phase on Friday (Nov. 28), marking a perfect opportunity to explore the half-lit lunar disk as it shines among the stars of the constellation Aquarius in the hours following sunset.
December's first quarter moon phase occurs at 1:59 a.m.EST (0659 GMT) on Nov. 28, when the right side of the moon will appear illuminated by direct sunlight from our Earthly perspective, while the left side will be hidden behind a veil of impenetrable shadow.
The first quarter moon rises around noon and sets close to midnight and so will have slipped below the horizon for viewers in the U.S. by the time it officially reaches the orbital milestone. Stargazers in America will get their best view of the half-lit lunar disk as it hangs above the eastern horizon in the hours following sunset on Thursday (Nov. 27).
A pair of 10X50 binoculars or a small backyard telescope will reveal a wealth of shadow-drenched craters lining the lower portion of the lunar surface close to the terminator — the line separating night from day on Earth's natural satellite.
Dark patches known as lunar maria, or lunar seas, will also be visible to the naked eye on the night of Nov. 27. These vast basaltic plains formed billions of years ago when masses of lava flooded ancient impact craters, before hardening to resurface swathes of the Earth-facing lunar disk.
Saturn will also be visible shining brightly to the upper left of the moon at sunset on Nov. 27, below the stars of the constellation Pisces. The gas giant's iconic ring system is currently oriented edge-on to Earth, making it appear as a thin line through the eyepiece of a telescope.
Looking to explore the moon for yourself and upgrade your amateur astronomy arsenal? Then be sure to check out our roundup of the best Black Friday deals, along with our picks of the top binoculars and telescopes for exploring the night sky.
Editor's Note: If you would like to share your image of the first quarter moon with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s) along with your comments, name and location to [email protected].
LATEST POSTS
- 1
NASA Artemis II tracker: Crew less than 60,000 miles from moon ahead of Monday flyby - 2Factbox-Artemis II crew includes first woman, Black astronaut and Canadian ever flown to moon
- 3Cannabis reclassification could 'open the floodgates' for research, scientists say
- 4Discovering a sense of harmony: Individual Accounts of Reflection and Care
- 5The most effective method to Pick the Ideal Lab Precious stone Wedding band
- NASA loses contact with its Maven spacecraft orbiting Mars for the past decade
- The most effective method to Succeed in Your Profession with a Web based Advertising Degree
- EU foreign ministers commemorate Russian massacre in Bucha
- German petrol stations hike prices as once-a-day rule takes effect
- From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation – and competition – will make 2026 an exciting year for space
- Santa's sleigh or the International Space Station? How to spot a bright Christmas flyby Dec. 24 and 25
- UN estimates over 2,000 Sudanese pregnant women have fled el-Fasher to escape conflict
- CNN Crew Detained and Journalist Put in Chokehold in IDF Run-In: ‘We’re Journalists. What Are You Doing?!’
- Independence from the rat race for Recent college grads: Systems and Tips
