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There's a little more to see on the Moon tonight as the crescent continues to fill out, so if you're into Moon gazing, grab your viewing gear and head outside.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 15, the NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 30% of its surface visible.

If you don't have any visual aids, you can still see the Mare Crisium and the Mare Fecunditatis. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll also see the Endymion Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. And for keen Moon gazers with a telescope, you'll get to see all this plus the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. As it orbits Earth, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface that we can see changes, creating the different phases. This takes us from the New Moon to the Full Moon and back again, before the cycle begins once more, according to NASA.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 15, 2026 All-time meaning

A peak or record that has never been done before.

Historic meaning

Momentous or significant.

Record meaning

A log of information.

Unprecedented meaning

Never seen or done before.

Dress code meaning

Rules for what can be worn to a place or event.

Registry meaning

An official record.

RSVP meaning

To make a reservation.

Travel meaning

To move from place to place.

Archive meaning

A record.

Octonion meaning

An 8-dimensional number system.

Rapscallion meaning

A mischievous person.

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Sleek meaning

Smooth and shiny.

Astral meaning

Related to the stars.

Cartesian meaning

Related to the scientist Descartes.

Inclined meaning

Willing to do something.

Jet meaning

A type of plane.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're one of a kind.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 15, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Groundbreaking

• Green: Tie the knot

• Blue: In the air

• Purple: Greens

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Unmatched

• Green: Wedding website sections

• Blue: ___ Plane

• Purple: Ending in vegetables in the allium family

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1253 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Unmatched: ALL-TIME, HISTORIC, RECORD, UNPRECEDENTED

• Wedding website sections: DRESS CODE, REGISTRY, RSVP, TRAVEL

• ___ Plane: ASTRAL, CARTESIAN, INCLINED, JET

• Ending in vegetables in the allium family: ARCHIVE, OCTONION, RAPSCALLION, SLEEK

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a comics fan.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Foiled again!

The words are related to superheroes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve a classic comic hero.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Batman Villain.

NYT Strands word list for November 15

• Joker

• Riddler

• Batman Villain

• Scarecrow

• Firefly

• Penguin

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're sarcastic.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Are you also playing NYT Connections? See hints and answers for today's Connections.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Condescending.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SNARK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Figuring out the right smart home automation routines has been a challenge for me, as I can't nail the perfect ones on my own. To identify the correct routines I need, I decided to enlist the help of AI. Google already has access to all my data, from my Google Home devices to my user history. I also use a Pixel 10 Pro with the Google AI Plus plan, so it only made sense to use Gemini for the job. Privacy isn't a concern for me because Google already knows everything about me, so I figured I might as well make the most of it.

While the Steam Deck is getting a bit long in the tooth and can’t run the majority of recent AAA titles at playable frame rates, Valve’s handheld PC is still capable enough for a good chunk of AAA games released a few years ago and earlier. The biggest downside when playing those games is upscaling, since the handheld’s AMD GPU is limited to older FSR versions that look way worse than DLSS and FSR 4.

Several months ago, I tried using AI to make 3D models and it didn’t end well. When I went to try using AI to make 3D models again, I expected it to end the same way. I was sorely mistaken. AI-generated 3D models have come a long way in a short amount of time, and it’s now an extremely viable way to create something with your 3D printer that doesn’t exist otherwise.

Watching a show can make a long treadmill session easier to get through, especially when enough is happening to keep you from checking the elapsed time. A miniseries also gives you a complete story you can finish over a few workouts, without adding too much to your watch time.

A NAS is basically a box full of hard drives, and there are a lot of ways to set one up without paying $1,000 for a big-name 8-bay box. You probably have parts lying around the house that can be used in the setup, including the one thing those shiny boxes almost never give you: real PCIe slots. Whether you're picking up a used PC for NAS duty or rescuing your own, these are the five cards I'd actually spend money on to close the gap with a premium NAS, and then blow right past it.

Setting up a media server is the easy part. The hard part shows up the first time you try to let your sister or a friend watch something on it. You send what feels like a simple invite, and suddenly you're explaining ports, domains, and why a TV remote can't type a colon. Where your server lives matters less than how a non-technical person gets to it. I've been on both sides of that conversation; there's a reason Plex is a more welcoming platform than Jellyfin.

TL;DR: Curiosity Stream is a documentary streaming service, and a lifetime subscription is $119.99 (reg. $399.99) with code DEAL20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $119.99
$399.99 Save $280   Get Deal

Most streaming services bill you monthly, and their documentary sections are usually small compared with their drama and reality shows. If you want a whole service built around nonfiction, try a Curiosity Stream lifetime subscription. Enter code DEAL20 at checkout, and you pay $119.99 (reg. $399.99) once, 70% below the list price.

Thousands of documentaries, one payment

Curiosity Stream comes from John Hendricks, who founded Discovery Communications. His streaming service is all documentaries, with thousands of films, series, and shows on science, technology, history, nature, and art. New titles arrive every week, so the library keeps growing long after you pay. Series include Planet of Treasures, Engineering the Future, Deep Time History, and Into the Jungle. Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places follows Hawking on a computer-generated trip through the universe, and that trilogy won Curiosity Stream its first Emmy for graphic design and art direction.

Everything streams in 1080p HD on desktop and mobile. You can download episodes before a flight and watch without Wi-Fi, bookmark a show for later, or start on your laptop and finish on your phone. Apps run on Android 5.0 and up, iOS 11 and up, Android TV, and Xbox One, and older Apple TV models can play shows through AirPlay. Built-in search tools sort the catalog by subject, so finding something on ancient history or deep-sea life takes a few seconds.

Parents who homeschool can use it to add to science and history lessons, and anyone who likes learning something new at night gets a steady supply of material. On the App Store, the app has a 4.7/5 rating.

This deal is for new Curiosity Stream users only. Your code needs to be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.

Pay once and keep a documentary library on hand for good. Through Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, use code DEAL20 to get a Curiosity Stream lifetime subscription for $119.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It's understandable that anyone creating a product is only incentivized to do the absolute minimum for it to sell. In a monopoly, that bar can be very low indeed, and in a competitive space things are better, but you only have to outperform your rivals, no more.

I've been a Plex guy from the very start of my self-hosted media journey (unless you count network shares and DLNA), but all my colleagues keep going on about Jellyfin and how great it is.

An impact wrench is a powerful and versatile tool I think everyone should own. And chances are, many DIY mechanics already have one that came in a combo kit. But as we all know, Ryobi is constantly releasing exciting new tools or upgrading its 18V ONE+ arsenal, and that includes an all-new impact wrench that's the perfect upgrade for your garage or shop.

It took some time, but One UI 9 has finally started to roll out to a swath of older devices. You don't have to have a brand-new flagship Galaxy device to get the update anymore, which is good news for me and my S24 FE. Even mid-range A-series devices and some tablets are now gaining access to the swath of new features.

At this point, there's a good chance anyone reading this has already purchased and pre-loaded Grand Theft Auto VI. You've chosen a console, or maybe you're still looking to buy one, but at any rate, all you can do is wait for the game and soak in any pre-release details you can.

Thank goodness for The Guardian, then, as the UK newspaper published an exclusive preview of the game in its Saturday print edition. We've read the whole thing, which involved a tour through Vice City's open world in the early stages of the game, and have compiled three of the more fascinating details that were revealed in the piece for your reading pleasure.

SEE ALSO: Boxed copies of GTA 6 are already out in the wild. Here's what's inside. There are so many birds in this game

One tiny nugget in the preview that stood out immediately is that, apparently, the player can keep a logbook of different wildlife they encounter in the streets and swamps of Leonida. As far as I know, this is a first for Grand Theft Auto, and it feels like something right out of Red Dead Redemption. Nature has been featured in some previous GTA games, but the player didn't have much of a relationship with it, unlike Rockstar's cowboy series.

Anyway, Rockstar confirmed to The Guardian that there are 62 different types of birds to log in GTA6. That's so many birds, man.

Romance isn't just in cutscenes

Much of GTA 6's marketing has focused on the romantic interplay between protagonists Jason and Lucia. We already know that both are playable, and can be switched between freely for much of the game outside of story missions. Rockstar has also spoken to some extent about the way romance works in GTA 6, but The Guardian's preview shed more light on how the player will actually affect it outside of cutscenes.

Specifically, whoever the player is controlling can call or text the other protagonist when they aren't together. When they are together, the player can make them go on dates, which can take the form of getting drinks, going to the gym, or even robbing a liquor store. Love manifests in many different ways, I guess. There will also be some unspecified consequences for neglecting the relationship, according to the preview.

Rockstar wants to encourage empathy

This was perhaps the most vague part of The Guardian's piece, but also the most interesting. According to Rockstar, GTA 6 "provide mechanisms to encourage [empathy]" in the player. We don't yet know exactly how that will manifest in-game, but it would be a stark departure from the almost nihilistic crime spree fantasies from previous GTA games.

Of course, you can still play GTA 6 that way if you want, but the game might have something for those of us who aren't interested in causing mayhem, too.

Flash drives aren’t the cheap choice that they used to be. Sure, you can still find some cheap flash drives around, but have you considered buying an external SSD instead? When you start to get to larger storage tiers, the pricing evens out and the external SSDs actually become a better buy.

So you buy a Kindle and you think to yourself, "I sure would like to turn the pages from way over here, surely there's a solution for that?" Well, to my personal surprise, I have recently learned both that people who want to turn eReader pages at a distance exist (it makes sense when you think about it) and that Kindles in particular have no elegant way of achieving this goal. Hence, the existence of weird and wacky "Kindle page turners."

When it comes to streaming, buying, selecting, or watching, I'm a picky viewer. It drives my wife bonkers. When I'm not being a thorn in her side about picking media to watch, I'm usually searching for ways to cancel subscriptions.