Moon Phase Today
Today's moon phase, illumination, and age — computed live in your browser, with the dates of the next new, quarter, and full moon.
Right now
🌗 Last Quarter
52% illuminated · 22.0 days old
A lunar cycle (one new moon to the next) lasts 29.53 days. Dates and times are shown in your timezone.
The 8 Moon Phases & When Each Next Occurs
Next New, First Quarter, Full & Last Quarter Moons
| Phase | Date & time |
|---|---|
| 🌗 Last Quarter | Sat, Oct 3, 2026, 12:57 PM |
| 🌑 New Moon | Sat, Oct 10, 2026, 03:51 PM |
| 🌓 First Quarter | Sun, Oct 18, 2026, 04:06 PM |
| 🌕 Full Moon | Mon, Oct 26, 2026, 04:12 AM |
Instants are computed with the truncated Meeus lunar algorithm and are accurate to within a couple of minutes; a full moon on the calendar date can differ between time zones.
Quick Answer
The moon cycles through eight phases — new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent — repeating every 29.53 days. Tonight's exact phase, its illuminated fraction, and the moon's age in days are computed live above, together with the dates of the next new, first quarter, full, and last quarter moon.
How It Works
Open the page — today's phase, illumination %, and moon age are already computed, no input needed
Read the moon disc to see exactly how much of the moon is lit right now
Select any of the 8 phases to preview its disc and see the date it next occurs
Check the table for upcoming new, first quarter, full, and last quarter dates in your timezone
Key Facts
- Shows today's phase name, illuminated %, and the moon's age in days
- Renders an accurate CSS moon disc — no images, works offline
- Phase selector displays all 8 phases with the date each next occurs
- Lists upcoming new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter dates
- Based on the truncated Meeus lunar algorithm (accurate to within minutes)
- All dates shown in your own timezone, detected automatically
- 100% client-side: computed in your browser, nothing uploaded
Frequently Asked Questions
What phase is the moon in tonight?
The exact phase is computed live at the top of this page from the current date and time, using the truncated Meeus lunar algorithm. Tonight's phase name, the illuminated percentage of the disc, and the moon's age in days are all shown, and they update automatically as the moon moves through its cycle.
How long is a lunar cycle?
A synodic month — one full cycle of moon phases from new moon to the next new moon — lasts 29.53 days on average (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes). Because the moon's orbit is elliptical, individual cycles vary by several hours around that average.
Why does the moon change shape?
The moon does not change shape — it always reflects sunlight from the half facing the Sun. As it orbits Earth each month, we see changing amounts of that sunlit half from our vantage point, which creates the familiar sequence of crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full phases.
What are the 8 phases of the moon?
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. Each phase lasts roughly 3.7 days, and the whole sequence repeats every 29.53 days. The selector above shows when each phase next occurs.
How accurate is this moon phase calculator?
The new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter instants are computed with the truncated Meeus algorithm from Astronomical Algorithms, which is accurate to within a couple of minutes of published almanac times. Intermediate crescent and gibbous phases can be off by a few hours.
Does everyone on Earth see the same moon phase?
Yes — the phase is the same worldwide at any given moment, because it depends only on the Sun–Earth–Moon geometry. The moon may be below your horizon, and the date (and therefore the calendar day of a full moon) can differ between time zones, but the illuminated shape is identical.