Lunar calendar · live phase
Moon Phases
Today’s moon phase, illumination, zodiac sign, and moonrise/moonset for your city — plus monthly calendars and upcoming phase dates.
Right now
Full today view → · August 2026 calendar → · Moon distance →
Next major phases
Upcoming new moon, quarters, and full moon from today.
August 2026 preview
The 8 moon phases
Each phase of the synodic month — open a card for upcoming dates.
Moon tools
The moon phases hub shows today’s lunar phase, illumination percentage, moon age since the last new moon, and zodiac sign for the date you pick. Choose a city to estimate local moonrise and moonset from latitude and longitude using astronomical formulas—no external API key. A calendar grid marks every day in August 2026 with phase icons so you can scan the month at a glance.
The eight named phases
Each synodic month averages about 29.5 days from new moon to new moon. The disc passes through eight common labels: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. Waxing means the lit portion grows; waning means it shrinks. Quarter moons appear half-lit from Earth even though the names refer to orbital position, not a literal half-full sphere.
Illumination runs from 0% at new moon to 100% at full moon. Moon age counts days since the previous new moon—day 14 or 15 is usually near full moon, but exact maximum illumination can fall between calendar days depending on time zone. Open today’s moon phase for a focused view of the current sky.
Moonrise, moonset, and planning
Moonrise and moonset depend on latitude, longitude, date, and horizon geometry. A full moon often rises near sunset—useful for photographers—but high latitudes may skip rise or set on some dates. Pick a city preset before trusting rise/set rows; hills and buildings shift observed times by minutes compared with flat sea-level formulas.
Compare moon times with sunrise and sunset when scheduling outdoor shoots. For darker skies near new moon, pair with dawn and dusk to see civil and astronomical twilight windows.
Full and new moon schedules
Jump to 2026 full moon pages from hub navigation when you need exact dates for event marketing or observatory nights. New moon dates matter for eclipse planning—solar eclipses occur only near new moon; lunar eclipses cluster near full moon. Browse all full moons in 2026 for a year-at-a-glance list.
Algorithms follow Jean Meeus methods common in almanacs. Times are suitable for education and casual planning, not legal metrology or sub-minute observatory scheduling without local verification at your coordinates.
Related tools
Continue with moon distance, zodiac calculator, and date tools. Print civil months from monthly calendars when you want wall planners beside lunar notes.
Frequently asked questions
What does the moon phases hub show?
The hub displays today’s lunar phase, illumination percentage, moon age since the last new moon, and zodiac sign for the date you pick. A calendar grid marks each day in the current month with phase icons. Choose a city to estimate local moonrise and moonset from latitude and longitude using astronomical formulas.
What are the eight named moon phases?
The synodic cycle passes through new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. Waxing means the lit portion grows; waning means it shrinks. Quarter moons appear half-lit from Earth even though the names refer to orbital position, not a half-full sphere.
Why do moonrise times change with city?
Moonrise and moonset depend on latitude, longitude, date, and horizon geometry. A full moon often rises near sunset, but high latitudes may skip rise or set on some dates. Pick a city preset before trusting rise and set rows—hills and buildings shift observed times compared with flat sea-level formulas.
How is synodic month different from sidereal month?
The synodic month averages about 29.5 days from new moon to new moon and governs phases as we see them from Earth. The sidereal month—orbit relative to distant stars—is slightly shorter. Phase calendars use the synodic cycle because the question is how the sun-lit face appears from here.
Can I find all full moons for the year?
Yes—use hub navigation to open full moon pages for the active calendar year. New moon dates matter for eclipse planning because solar eclipses occur only near new moon while lunar eclipses cluster near full moon. Times suit education and casual planning, not sub-minute observatory scheduling without local verification.
Is this hub a religious lunar calendar?
No—this page is astronomical, not an authority on Islamic, Hebrew, or other religious lunar months that follow separate rules. Use it for gardening notes, photography planning, and skywatching context. Pair with sunrise and sunset or dawn and dusk pages when scheduling outdoor shoots around twilight.