What is the moon phase today?
See the current moon phase, illumination, age, constellation, sign, distance from Earth, position in the sky, and more for today or any date in the past or future.
The Moon changes its appearance continuously as it orbits Earth. Use the live Moon tracker above to see the Current Moon Phase, Illumination, Moon Age, Moon Sign, Constellation, Moon Distance, and other astronomical information about the moon for any given date.
What information does the Moon tracker show?
The Moon tracker provides the following information about the Moon and Sun:
- Moon Phase: The Moon Phase data point shows where the Moon is in its approximately 29.53-day synodic cycle, from New Moon through Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
- Illumination: The Illumination data point shows the percentage of the Moon’s visible disk that is illuminated by sunlight as seen from Earth. It ranges from nearly 0% at New Moon to nearly 100% at Full Moon.
- Moon Age: The Moon Age data point shows the approximate amount of time that has passed since the most recent New Moon. A complete synodic cycle lasts about 29.53 days, after which the cycle begins again.
- Moon Sign: The Moon Sign data point shows the zodiac sign in which the Moon is currently located. The Moon moves through all 12 zodiac signs in approximately 27.3 days, spending roughly 2 to 2.5 days in each sign.
- Constellation: The Constellation data point shows the background constellation in which the Moon currently appears. This is an astronomical position based on the Moon’s location against the background stars and is different from the astrological Moon Sign.
- Moon Distance: The Moon Distance data point shows the distance between the Moon and Earth at a particular moment. Because the Moon follows an elliptical orbit, this distance changes continuously. The Moon can come as close as about 356,500 km to Earth at perigee.
- Moon Angle: The Moon Angle data point, also known as angular diameter, shows how large the Moon appears in the sky as viewed from Earth. The Moon has a larger apparent size when it is closer to Earth and a smaller apparent size when it is farther away.
- Sun Angle: The Sun Angle data point shows the Sun’s position relative to the horizon at your location. It changes throughout the day as Earth rotates and helps describe the Sun’s elevation in the sky.
- Sun Distance: The Sun Distance data point shows the distance between the center of Earth and the center of the Sun. This distance changes slightly throughout the year because Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
These values change continuously, so the information displayed by the tracker can change from one moment to the next.
The 8 phases of the Moon
The Moon does not produce its own visible light. Instead, sunlight illuminates approximately half of the Moon at any given time. As the Moon orbits Earth, our viewing angle changes, allowing us to see different portions of its illuminated side. These changing appearances are called Moon phases.
The eight commonly recognized phases are:
🌑 New Moon
During a New Moon, the Moon is positioned approximately between Earth and the Sun. The side of the Moon facing Earth receives little or no direct sunlight, making the Moon difficult to see in the night sky.
A New Moon is necessary for a solar eclipse, but a solar eclipse does not occur during every New Moon. This is because the Moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5° relative to Earth’s orbital plane.
🌒 Waxing Crescent
Shortly after New Moon, a thin illuminated crescent becomes visible. The illuminated portion increases each day as the Moon moves toward First Quarter.
🌓 First Quarter
During First Quarter, approximately half of the Moon’s visible disk is illuminated.
Despite its name, First Quarter does not mean that one-quarter of the Moon is illuminated. The name refers to the Moon being approximately one-quarter of the way through its synodic cycle.
🌔 Waxing Gibbous
During the Waxing Gibbous phase, more than half of the Moon’s visible disk is illuminated. The illuminated portion continues to increase as the Moon approaches Full Moon.
🌕 Full Moon
During a Full Moon, the side of the Moon facing Earth is almost completely illuminated by sunlight. The Moon is approximately opposite the Sun in the sky as viewed from Earth.
A lunar eclipse can occur only during a Full Moon, but not every Full Moon produces an eclipse. The Moon’s tilted orbit usually causes it to pass above or below Earth’s shadow.
🌖 Waning Gibbous
After Full Moon, the illuminated portion of the Moon begins to decrease. More than half of the visible disk remains illuminated, but the Moon is now in its waning phase.
🌗 Last Quarter
During Last Quarter, approximately half of the Moon’s visible disk is illuminated again. The illuminated portion is opposite the one seen during First Quarter.
Last Quarter is also commonly called Third Quarter.
🌘 Waning Crescent
During the Waning Crescent phase, the illuminated portion of the Moon continues to decrease, becoming a progressively thinner crescent as the Moon approaches the next New Moon.
The cycle then begins again with a New Moon.
The lunar cycle
A complete sequence from one New Moon to the next takes an average of 29.53 days. This period is called the synodic month or lunar cycle.
The synodic month is different from the Moon’s orbital period relative to the background stars. The Moon takes about 27.3 days to complete one orbit around Earth relative to the stars.
The Elliptical Orbit of the Moon
The Moon does not orbit Earth in a perfect circle. Its orbit is slightly elliptical, so its distance from Earth changes continuously.
The closest point in the Moon’s orbit is called perigee, while the farthest point is called apogee.
Near perigee, the Moon appears slightly larger and brighter than it does near apogee. When a Full Moon occurs close to perigee, it is commonly called a supermoon.
The Moon’s changing distance also affects solar eclipses. When the Moon is relatively far from Earth, its apparent diameter can be too small to completely cover the Sun. This can produce an annular solar eclipse, in which a bright ring of sunlight remains visible around the Moon.
Does the Moon look the same everywhere on Earth?
The Moon is essentially in the same phase for observers around Earth at a given moment. However, its orientation can appear different depending on where you are located.
Observers in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres see the illuminated portion oriented differently because they are viewing the Moon from different perspectives. The Moon can also appear at different orientations for observers near the equator.
Crossing the equator does not change the Moon’s actual phase. It changes how the illuminated portion appears oriented in the sky.
Why track the moon phase?
People track the moon for various reasons:
- Astrophotography: The best Moon phase depends on the subject being photographed. New Moon provides darker skies for deep-sky photography, while a Crescent Moon or Quarter Moon can provide attractive natural lighting for landscape photography.
- Gardening: Some gardening traditions associate planting and harvesting with Moon phases. These practices have cultural and historical significance, but there is no strong scientific evidence that ordinary Moon phases reliably improve plant growth or crop yields.
- Fishing: Fish behavior can be influenced by tides, light levels, weather, water temperature, and other environmental factors. Because Moon phases affect tides and nighttime illumination, some anglers use the Moon as one factor when planning fishing trips. However, Moon phase alone does not reliably predict fishing success.
- Stargazing: A bright Moon can make faint stars, galaxies, and nebulae harder to see. The period around New Moon generally provides darker skies and is often preferred for deep-sky observing.
- Spiritual practice: New and Full Moons have played important roles in calendars, traditions, religious practices, and cultural observances around the world. These uses reflect cultural traditions rather than the physical effects of Moon phases.
- Tides: The Moon is the primary driver of Earth’s tides, with the Sun also contributing. Spring tides, which have a greater tidal range, occur around New Moon and Full Moon. Neap tides, which have a smaller tidal range, occur around First Quarter and Last Quarter. The exact timing and size of tides also depend on local geography and ocean conditions.
FAQ’s ❓
What does moon age mean?
Moon age is the number of days that have passed since the most recent New Moon. It is measured along the Moon’s approximately 29.53-day synodic cycle, so the age resets to about 0 at New Moon and approaches 29.53 days before the next New Moon.
What does the Moon’s illumination percentage mean?
Moon illumination is the percentage of the Moon’s apparent disk that is lit by sunlight and visible from Earth. It ranges from nearly 0% at New Moon to nearly 100% at Full Moon. The percentage changes gradually each day as the Moon moves through its orbit.
Why does the Moon change shape?
The Moon does not actually change shape. Half of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits Earth, we see different portions of that sunlit half. These changing views create the eight commonly recognized lunar phases.
What is the difference between a waxing and waning moon?
“Wax” and “wane” are old English words for grow and diminish. A waxing moon is growing – illumination is increasing from new moon toward full moon. A waning moon is shrinking – illumination is decreasing from full moon back toward new moon.
Can I see the moon every night?
The Moon is not always above your horizon at night. Near New Moon, it is generally close to the Sun in the sky and is difficult or impossible to see after sunset. At other phases, it may be visible during the evening, late night, morning, or even daytime.
What is a half Moon?
A half Moon occurs when about half of the Moon’s visible disk is illuminated. This happens at First Quarter and Last Quarter. The terms “First Quarter” and “Last Quarter” refer to the Moon’s position in its lunar cycle, not to the percentage of the Moon that is illuminated.
Is the Moon phase the same everywhere on Earth?
Yes. The Moon’s physical phase is essentially the same worldwide at any given moment. Its apparent orientation, altitude, rise and set times, and position in the sky vary with your location.
How long is a lunar cycle?
A complete cycle from one New Moon to the next takes about 29.53 days. This is called the synodic month.
What is the difference between a lunar cycle and the Moon’s orbit?
The Moon takes about 27.3 days to orbit Earth relative to the background stars. It takes about 29.53 days for the same lunar phase to repeat because Earth is simultaneously moving around the Sun.