See today's moon phase, illumination, and lunar age, plus the next full and new moon. Build a moon phase calendar for any month or date.
Tell us more, and we'll get back to you.
Contact UsSee today's moon phase, illumination, and lunar age, plus the next full and new moon. Build a moon phase calendar for any month or date.
Use daily mode for today's moon phase or any date, upcoming phases for the next four major phases, monthly mode for a compact lunar calendar, and range mode for day-by-day lookup.
This calculator does not estimate moonrise or moonset because the existing astronomy calculators do not provide a validated, location-aware lunar-altitude utility. Use a local observatory or almanac for rise/set times.
The lunar phase is global; the time zone controls the local calendar date and time shown for phase events.
Leave the date on today to check the current phase, illumination, lunar age, and upcoming major phase dates.
Share the current inputs or ask ChatGPT to explain the calculation in context.
Moon phases are the changing appearances of the Moon as seen from Earth. These changes occur as the Moon orbits around our planet, with different portions of the illuminated half visible from our perspective. A complete cycle of lunar phases, known as a synodic month or lunation, takes approximately 29.5 days.
The Moon doesn't produce its own light but reflects sunlight. The portion we see illuminated depends on the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. When the Moon is between the Earth and Sun, the side facing us receives no direct sunlight, resulting in a New Moon. When the Earth is between the Sun and Moon, the Moon's Earth-facing side is fully illuminated, giving us a Full Moon.
New Moon
(0°)
Waxing Crescent
(45°)
First Quarter
(90°)
Waxing Gibbous
(135°)
Full Moon
(180°)
Waning Gibbous
(225°)
Last Quarter
(270°)
Waning Crescent
(315°)
The moon phase today is the phase calculated for the current local date. In the calculator, daily mode defaults to today's date, so it can be used as a quick "what is the moon phase today?" lookup. The result includes the phase name, phase emoji, approximate illumination, lunar age, phase angle, next full moon, and next new moon. You can also change the date to check a birthday, trip, stargazing night, fishing day, tide planning window, or historical event.
At any instant the Moon has one global phase, but the calendar date shown to you is local. A phase that occurs close to midnight may be listed on one date in North America and a different date in Europe, Asia, or Australia. The appearance can also seem rotated depending on hemisphere and latitude. Northern Hemisphere observers often see waxing light on the right side of the Moon, while Southern Hemisphere observers often see it on the left.
Check today's moon phase before choosing a telescope target. New moon nights are best for faint deep-sky objects, while quarter phases reveal crater shadows along the lunar terminator.
A bright gibbous or full moon can add natural light for camping, hiking, and night photography. A thin crescent or new moon keeps the sky darker for stars and meteor showers.
Use the selected date result to compare today's lunar age with a future date, then use the monthly lunar calendar to see how the rest of the month changes.
The next full moon is the next point in the lunar cycle when the Moon is opposite the Sun from Earth's perspective and the visible disk is almost fully illuminated. In this calculator, daily mode shows the next full moon for the selected date, and the upcoming phases mode highlights the next full moon and next new moon from your chosen starting point. A full moon occurs around lunar age 14.8 days and phase angle 180 degrees.
Full moons are useful planning markers because they rise near sunset, cross the sky through the night, and set near sunrise. That makes them popular for night landscapes, moonrise photos, outdoor events, and cultural calendars. Full moon dates are also tied to stronger spring-tide patterns, although local tide height depends on coastline shape, weather, pressure, wind, and official tide station data.
The next new moon is the next time the Moon lines up between Earth and the Sun, placing the sunlit side mostly away from us. New moon is lunar age 0 days at the start of a new cycle, and it repeats about every 29.53 days. The Moon is usually not visible at the exact new moon because it is too close to the Sun in the sky, except during a solar eclipse when the alignment also crosses the Moon's orbital nodes.
New moon dates are especially useful for dark-sky planning. The nights around new moon usually have the least moonlight, making them better for Milky Way photography, meteor showers, faint nebulae, and remote camping under dark skies. The first visible crescent usually appears a day or two after the astronomical new moon, low in the western sky after sunset, depending on location, weather, and horizon.
The monthly lunar calendar view lists the major phases for a chosen month and year: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. This is the fastest way to scan a month for bright nights, dark-sky weekends, tide-planning periods, and calendar events tied to the lunar cycle. Because a synodic month is about 29.53 days, calendar months do not line up perfectly with lunar months. Some phases may fall near the first or last day of a month, and rare second full moons or new moons should be verified with a high-precision almanac.
A lunar calendar is a planning aid rather than an observatory ephemeris. This calculator uses a simplified cycle-based model, so it is best for general phase dates and approximate illumination. Exact phase instants, eclipse circumstances, moonrise direction, and altitude require location-aware astronomical data. For most everyday uses, the monthly view gives a practical overview of when the Moon is growing brighter, when it is full, and when it returns to darker skies.
Find the full moon and surrounding gibbous nights for moonlit hikes, landscape photography, outdoor events, or seasonal full moon traditions.
Find the new moon and nearby crescent nights for stargazing, meteor showers, astrophotography, and other low-moonlight activities.
Phase age and illumination explain more than the phase name alone. Lunar age is the number of days since the last new moon in the roughly 29.53-day cycle. Illumination is the approximate percentage of the Moon's visible disk that is lit by the Sun. A waxing crescent may have low illumination and a small age, a full moon is near the middle of the cycle with illumination close to 100%, and a waning crescent has low illumination near the end of the cycle.
Illumination is not the same as visibility. A bright moon may be below the horizon during your planned activity, hidden by clouds, or low behind trees and buildings. A thin crescent may be technically present but difficult to see in twilight. Pair the calculator's phase age and illumination with local sky conditions, horizon view, and moonrise or moonset information when timing an observation.
The lunar cycle, also known as the synodic month, spans approximately 29.53 days from one New Moon to the next. This cycle is different from the Moon's orbital period around Earth (27.32 days, called the sidereal month) because the Earth-Moon system is also moving around the Sun.
The Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun, with its dark side facing us. It's not visible from Earth except during a solar eclipse. Traditionally marks the beginning of a lunar month in many calendars.
The Moon has completed 1/4 of its orbit, appearing as a half-circle. Rising around noon and setting around midnight, it's visible in the afternoon and evening.
Earth is between the Sun and Moon, making the entire lunar disk visible. The Moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, illuminating the night. Special full moons include Harvest Moon, Blue Moon, and Supermoon.
The Moon has completed 3/4 of its orbit, again appearing as a half-circle but on the opposite side. Rising around midnight and setting around noon, it's visible in the morning.
The terms "waxing" and "waning" describe the Moon's changing appearance: waxing when it appears to grow (from New to Full) and waning when it appears to shrink (from Full to New). "Crescent" refers to less than half illuminated, while "gibbous" means more than half illuminated.
The mechanics of moon phases involve the position of the Moon relative to both the Earth and the Sun. Understanding these orbital dynamics helps explain why we see different phases at different times.
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5.1° relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic). This is why we don't see solar and lunar eclipses every month because they occur only when the Moon crosses the ecliptic during a New or Full Moon.
Although the Moon is tidally locked to Earth (meaning we always see the same face), small wobbles in its motion called librations allow us to see about 59% of the lunar surface over time, rather than just 50%.
During crescent phases, the dark part of the Moon is sometimes faintly visible due to sunlight reflected from Earth onto the lunar surface, then back to our eyes. This phenomenon, called "earthshine" or "the old moon in the new moon's arms," is most visible during thin crescents.
This calculator uses a simplified model based on the synodic period of 29.53 days. By tracking the time elapsed since a known New Moon and dividing by the lunar cycle length, we can determine the current phase angle (0-360°) and illumination percentage. This provides a good approximation for general purposes, though precise astronomical calculations would account for orbital eccentricity and other perturbations.
Throughout history, the Moon and its phases have played important roles in human culture, influencing religion, agriculture, navigation, and timekeeping.
Many cultures developed lunar calendars, including Islamic, Hebrew, Chinese, and Hindu calendars. These systems track time based on lunar cycles, with each month beginning at the New Moon. Since 12 lunar months (354 days) is shorter than the solar year (365.25 days), these calendars often add intercalary months to stay aligned with seasons.
Farmers historically used moon phases to time planting and harvesting. The "Farmer's Almanac" still includes planting advice based on moon phases, suggesting that seeds germinate better during certain lunar phases. While not scientifically proven, these traditions remain culturally significant.
Full moons have traditional names tied to seasonal events: Wolf Moon (January), Pink Moon (April), Harvest Moon (September), Cold Moon (December). Indigenous peoples worldwide have their own naming systems. Occasionally, a "Blue Moon" (second full moon in a calendar month) occurs.
Before modern GPS, sailors used the Moon for navigation. Full moons provided night visibility and helped determine longitude. Polynesians and other seafaring cultures developed sophisticated navigation techniques based on the Moon's position and phases.
Beyond the regular phases, several special moon phenomena captivate observers worldwide:
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface. This can only happen during a Full Moon when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow. Total lunar eclipses often give the Moon a reddish appearance, earning the name "Blood Moon" as Earth's atmosphere filters sunlight, allowing only red wavelengths to reach the lunar surface.
When a Full Moon coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth (perigee), it appears slightly larger and brighter than usual, a phenomenon called a Supermoon. Technically known as a "perigee syzygy," a Supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than an apogee Full Moon (when the Moon is at its furthest point from Earth).
The phrase "once in a blue moon" refers to the rare occurrence of a second Full Moon within a calendar month, which happens approximately every 2.7 years. Historically, a Blue Moon also referred to the third Full Moon in a season containing four Full Moons. Despite the name, the Moon doesn't actually appear blue during these events.
Less well-known than a Blue Moon, a Black Moon typically refers to the second New Moon in a calendar month. Because New Moons aren't visible, this phenomenon can't be observed directly but is significant in astronomical calculations and some cultural traditions.
A moon phase result is most useful when it is paired with phase age, illumination, rise time, and viewing conditions. The phase name gives a quick description, while the age tells where the Moon is in the roughly 29.53 day cycle. Illumination tells how much of the visible disk is lit, but it does not tell when the Moon will be above the horizon. For observing, photography, fishing, tide planning, or cultural calendars, the local date, time zone, weather, and horizon view all matter.
Visibility changes through the cycle. A waxing crescent is usually seen low in the western sky after sunset. First quarter is visible in the afternoon and evening. A full moon rises near sunset and remains visible through much of the night. Last quarter is better for late night and morning viewing. A waning crescent appears before sunrise. Knowing this pattern helps set realistic expectations. A perfect phase on the calendar may still be inconvenient if it is above the horizon while you are asleep.
Moonlight affects night activities. Astronomers often prefer new moon periods because darker skies reveal faint galaxies, nebulae, and meteor showers. Hikers and campers may prefer a bright moon for natural light. Photographers may plan landscapes around moonrise, moonset, and the angle of illumination. Wildlife watchers may notice different animal behavior under bright nights. The calculator can identify the phase, then a local almanac or sky app can refine the exact timing and direction.
Tides are tied to the gravitational alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. New moon and full moon align the bodies in a way that often produces spring tides, with higher high tides and lower low tides. First and last quarter tend to produce neap tides, with a smaller tidal range. Local coast shape, weather, pressure, wind, and river flow also affect actual water levels. For boating or coastal safety, use official tide tables rather than relying on phase alone.
Calendars use the Moon in different ways. Some calendars begin a month with the first visible crescent, while others use astronomical new moon calculations. Religious and cultural observances may depend on local sighting rules, regional authorities, or a fixed calendar system. A calculated phase can provide context, but it may not decide an observance date by itself. When the date has cultural or religious meaning, follow the relevant local calendar or authority.
The simplified phase model is accurate enough for general learning and planning, but the Moon does not move in a perfect circle at a constant speed. Its orbit is elliptical, tilted, and affected by the gravity of the Sun and planets. Precise ephemerides account for these details. A simple calculator may differ slightly from an observatory value, especially for exact phase times. For casual use, the phase name and illumination are usually sufficient. For eclipses, occulting events, or telescope alignment, use a specialized astronomy source.
Time zones can change the displayed date of a phase. A full moon that occurs late at night in one region may occur after midnight in another. If you are comparing dates with friends, event listings, or calendars from another country, check the time zone. This is especially important for blue moons, monthly phase lists, and photography plans. The Moon itself has one global phase at a given instant, but the calendar date depends on where the observer is.
The moon phase today is the phase calculated for the current local date. Daily mode defaults to today and shows the phase name, approximate illumination, lunar age, phase angle, next new moon, and next full moon. Because the exact phase changes continuously, the displayed calendar date can differ by time zone when a phase occurs close to midnight.
The calculator shows the next full moon for the selected date in daily mode and in the upcoming phases view. A full moon occurs about halfway through the 29.53-day lunar cycle, around lunar age 14.8 days, when the visible disk is nearly fully illuminated. The date is approximate and can shift by time zone, so use an observatory or local almanac for exact full moon times.
The next new moon is shown in daily mode and in the upcoming phases view. New moon marks the start of a new lunar cycle, when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun and the side facing us is mostly dark. It is the best phase for dark-sky planning, though the exact new moon instant is not usually visible except during a solar eclipse.
Choose monthly lunar calendar mode, then select a month and year. The calculator lists the major phases for that month: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. Use it to scan for bright full-moon nights, dark new-moon weekends, tide-planning periods, or dates when a lunar event may affect observing and photography plans.
This calculator uses a simplified synodic-month model based on the average 29.53-day lunar cycle. It is suitable for everyday phase names, approximate illumination, lunar age, and general planning. It may differ from high-precision ephemerides for exact phase instants because the Moon's orbit is elliptical, tilted, and affected by gravitational perturbations. Use official observatory data for eclipses, occultations, navigation, or telescope alignment.
The Moon has one global phase at a given instant, but people record that instant using local calendar dates and time zones. If a full moon or new moon occurs late at night in one region, it may already be the next day somewhere else. Time zone differences are most noticeable for monthly lunar calendars, blue moons, cultural observances, and event planning across countries.
Lunar age is the number of days since the last new moon. It tells where the Moon is in the roughly 29.53-day cycle: about 0 days at new moon, 7 days near first quarter, 14 to 15 days near full moon, 22 days near last quarter, and almost 29.53 days just before the next new moon. Lunar age helps interpret whether the Moon is waxing or waning and how much moonlight to expect.
The Moon's phases are caused by the changing relative positions of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun as the Moon orbits Earth. The Moon reflects sunlight, and we see different portions of its sunlit half during the month. New moon occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, while full moon occurs when Earth is between the Sun and Moon.
New moon and full moon align Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, which often produces spring tides with higher high tides and lower low tides. First quarter and last quarter put the Sun and Moon at right angles from Earth's perspective, which often produces neap tides with a smaller tidal range. Local coast shape, weather, pressure, and wind also affect actual tide levels, so use official tide tables for safety-critical decisions.