Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Waxing Gibbous Moon Shines at 91% Ahead of Dec. 4 Supermoon

The bright phase offers easy sights from naked-eye maria to telescope-level Apollo landmarks.

Overview

  • NASA’s Daily Moon Observation reports the Moon is waxing gibbous at 91% illumination on Dec. 2.
  • This is day 12 of the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle, with the bright dayside continuing to expand.
  • Unaided viewing can reveal Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, and the Copernicus Crater.
  • Binoculars bring Endymion, Alphonsus, and Posidonius into view, while a telescope can pick out the Apollo 15 and 16 sites and Rima Hyginus.
  • The next full moon arrives on Dec. 4 and is described as the last of three consecutive supermoons.