Moon Phase Today
Current Lunar Status
Upcoming Exact Major Phases
7-Day Lunar Phase Overview
| Date (UTC) | Phase | Illumination |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Aug 6 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 40.9% |
| Fri, Aug 7 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 29.8% |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 19.7% |
| Sun, Aug 9 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 11.1% |
| Mon, Aug 10 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 4.7% |
| Tue, Aug 11 | 🌘 Waning Crescent | 1% |
| Wed, Aug 12 | 🌑 New Moon | 0% |
Computed just now from the current sky, shown in UTC.
The moon phase tells you how much of the Moon’s lit side we can see from Earth at a given moment. The Moon does not shine on its own; it reflects sunlight, and because it orbits the Earth, the angle between the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon slowly changes. That is why the Moon looks different across the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle.
The cycle starts at the new moon, when the Moon is barely visible, then grows through the waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous into the full moon. After that the lit part shrinks again: waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent, until the next new moon. Each of these stages has its own name, and AstroNow shows the one that matches the present moment.
People check the moon phase for many reasons. Some simply want to know when the next full moon will rise so they can watch the night sky. Others use the lunar rhythm as a calm way to organize their thoughts.
AstroNow displays the current moon phase calculated in UTC and adapted to your local timezone. Beyond the phase itself, you can check Void of Course Moon periods and follow lunar sign ingresses.
The moon phase is only part of the bigger picture. To see which signs the planets occupy, visit planet signs today, and to learn about the angles between planets, see the current aspects page. For a wider view over time, use the astrology calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Moon phases are there?
- AstroNow names eight: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. The Moon's actual illumination changes continuously — the eight names are traditional checkpoints along that continuous cycle.
- How long is a full lunar cycle?
- About 29.5 days from one new moon to the next — this is called a synodic month. That is slightly longer than the 27.3-day sidereal month it takes the Moon to orbit the Earth once, because the Earth itself has moved along its own orbit around the Sun in the meantime.
- What is the difference between a full moon and a supermoon?
- "Full moon" describes the phase — the Sun, Earth, and Moon are roughly aligned. "Supermoon" is an unrelated, informal term for a full or new moon that happens to fall close to the Moon's perigee (its closest point to Earth), making it appear slightly larger and brighter. The two only sometimes coincide.
- Why does moonrise happen later each day?
- The Moon moves roughly 13° eastward against the background stars every day as it orbits the Earth, so Earth has to rotate a little further each day to "catch up" to it. That shifts moonrise about 50 minutes later, on average, from one day to the next.
- Does the Moon phase affect ocean tides?
- Yes — this part is standard astronomy, not astrology. Around the new and full moon, the Sun and Moon's gravitational pull align, producing the larger "spring" tides. Around the first and last quarter, their pull partly cancels out, producing smaller "neap" tides.
- Is today's Moon phase the same everywhere on Earth?
- Yes — the phase itself is a geometric relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon, so it is identical worldwide at a given instant. What differs by location is moonrise and moonset time, and whether the Moon is above the horizon for you to actually see it.
Remember that the moon information here is meant for reflection and entertainment. It is a pleasant way to notice natural rhythms, not a set of instructions or professional advice.