Moon Phase
Current moon phase and illumination percentage for any date. 30-day moon phase calendar showing full moon, new moon, and quarter phases.
How to Use
Pick any date to see the moon phase for that day — the diagram shows the lit portion of the moon as it would appear in the sky, along with the phase name and exact illumination percentage. The 30-day calendar below shows the full lunar cycle at a glance.
Moon Phases Explained
| Phase | What it means |
|---|---|
| New Moon | Moon is between Earth and Sun — not visible at night |
| Waxing Crescent | Small sliver visible after sunset, growing each night |
| First Quarter | Right half lit — rises around midday, sets around midnight |
| Waxing Gibbous | More than half lit, growing toward full |
| Full Moon | Fully illuminated — rises at sunset, sets at sunrise |
| Waning Gibbous | Shrinking from full, rising after sunset |
| Last Quarter | Left half lit — rises around midnight, sets around midday |
| Waning Crescent | Small sliver visible before sunrise, shrinking to new |
Common Uses
- Fishing and hunting — moon phase affects animal activity patterns
- Gardening — lunar planting calendars use moon cycles for sowing and harvesting
- Photography — planning night shoots around full and crescent moons
- Astronomy — best stargazing is around new moon when the sky is darkest
- Tide planning — full and new moons produce the highest (spring) tides