Waning Gibbous
Next occurrence (UTC):
Typical illumination: 75%
After full moon the lit fraction begins to shrink. Waning gibbous is still mostly illuminated, typically from nearly 100% down toward 50%.
How it looks
In the Northern Hemisphere the dark strip grows on the right. The Moon remains bright but slightly less dazzling than at full.
When it is visible
It rises after sunset, is highest after midnight, and is still visible in the morning sky. Good for late-night and pre-dawn observing.
Geometry
Phase longitude is between about 186° and 247°. The Moon is moving west of opposition relative to the Sun.