Upcoming Moon Phases
The next principal phases, in your local time — calculated with the standard astronomical algorithm (accurate to a couple of minutes):
| Phase | Date & time |
|---|
When Is the Next Full Moon?
The exact date and time of the next full moon, in your timezone, is shown in the countdown above.
Each month's full moon has a traditional name from old farming almanacs: Wolf Moon (January), Snow Moon (February), Worm Moon (March), Pink Moon (April), Flower Moon (May), Strawberry Moon (June), Buck Moon (July), Sturgeon Moon (August), Harvest or Corn Moon (September), Hunter's Moon (October), Beaver Moon (November), and Cold Moon (December).
Why the Moon Has Phases
The moon doesn't make its own light — we see the half of it that the sun is lighting. As the moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days, our viewing angle on that lit half changes: when the moon sits between us and the sun we see none of it (new moon), and when Earth sits between the two we see the whole lit face (full moon). Everything else — crescents, quarters, gibbous phases — is the in-between geometry. The phase is identical everywhere on Earth at the same moment; only the moon's apparent tilt differs by hemisphere.
The Eight Phases, in Order
- New Moon — invisible, rising and setting with the sun
- Waxing Crescent — a growing sliver in the evening sky
- First Quarter — right half lit (in the northern hemisphere), high at sunset
- Waxing Gibbous — more than half, still growing
- Full Moon — fully lit, rising at sunset and up all night
- Waning Gibbous — past full, rising later each evening
- Last Quarter — left half lit, high at sunrise
- Waning Crescent — a shrinking sliver in the dawn sky
FAQ
What phase is the moon in tonight?
The phase shown at the top of this page is live — it's tonight's moon, with the exact illumination percentage.
How accurate are these times?
The phase times use the standard Meeus astronomical algorithm and are typically within a couple of minutes of observatory values, shown in your local timezone.
How long does a full moon last?
Technically the moon is "full" for an instant — the moment shown above. To the eye it looks essentially full for a day or so on either side.
Does the southern hemisphere see a different phase?
Same phase, flipped orientation — a waxing crescent lights the right edge in the north and the left edge in the south.