You can follow an almost half-lit Moon across the southern sky tonight, just ahead of tomorrow’s first-quarter milestone. (Moon timetable; phase calendar)

• Evening Moon: Look fairly low in the south around 6:30 PM Eastern, shortly after the 6:19 PM sunset, then toward the southwest later. At our reference near Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Moon sets at 11:03 PM. A clear southern horizon makes your early look easier, without a last-minute rush to catch it setting (sunset timetable; Moon timetable).
• Orionid meteors: After midnight Eastern into Sunday, October 18, choose a dark spot and scan widely overhead. The Moon is below the horizon, and meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. Look for quick streaks, sometimes followed by a briefly glowing trail, but expect a patient watch before the October 21 to 22 peak (Moon timetable; Orionids guide).

Tomorrow’s first quarter arrives at 12:12 PM Eastern, the familiar half-lit phase. Tonight you are still looking at a waxing crescent, growing toward that shape (phase calendar; Moon timetable).

Moon note: Waxing crescent; next rise is 2:38 PM Eastern tomorrow, October 18, at our reference location (Moon timetable).

Enjoy a little time under the sky, and join the free NOOMMED newsletter for your next backyard outing.