The 1st quarter moon comes on December 15 at 11:49 UTC. A 1st quarter moon is high up at sunset. It appears half-illuminated, like half a pie. Really, you’re seeing half the moon’s day side.

Will you see the moon on December 6? It’s possible if you look very low in the east before sunup. The exact moment of new moon comes before dawn on December 7 for us in the contiguous U.S.

The next last quarter moon falls on November 30, 2018 at 00:19 UTC. A last quarter moon rises around midnight and sets around noon the following day.

Remember that half the moon is always illuminated by the sun. That lighted half is the moon’s day side.

It’s a moon between full and last quarter. Last full moon was October 24. Next last quarter moon will be October 31. Watch for the waning gibbous moon from late night through early morning.

A waxing gibbous moon appears more than half lighted, but less than full. It rises before sundown and sets somewhere between midnight and dawn.

Many people report seeing earthshine on a waxing crescent moon. That’s when the darkened portion of the crescent glows dimly with light reflected from Earth.

A waning crescent moon is up in the east before sunrise. It’s waning toward new moon, when the moon will be between the Earth and sun.

Half the moon always faces us. And half the moon is always lit by the sun. But, in the language of astronomers, there are no ‘half moons.’