This page shows the Moon's phase for today, the percentage of the disc that is lit, and the dates of the next new and full moon. It is recalculated from the Moon's 29.53-day cycle every time the page loads.
The Moon on Sunday, September 6, 2026
Tonight the Moon is a waning crescent, about 29% lit and waning.
A shrinking sliver before the next new moon.
Accuracy: this is calculated from the Moon's average 29.53-day cycle, so the phase is right and the turnover dates are accurate to within about a day. For an exact time, check an ephemeris.
How this works
The Moon takes about 29.53 days to go from new to new. That cycle drives the phase you see tonight, and it is the fastest-moving thing in a birth chart.
The eight phases in order
- New moon - not visible; the cycle restarts.
- Waxing crescent - a thin sliver returning.
- First quarter - half lit, rising around midday.
- Waxing gibbous - more than half, still filling.
- Full moon - the whole face lit.
- Waning gibbous - past full, shrinking.
- Last quarter - half lit on the other side.
- Waning crescent - the final sliver.
Why astrologers watch the Moon
The Moon moves faster than anything else in a chart - a full circuit in about 27.3 days. That speed is why it is read as mood and instinct rather than long-term direction, and why your Moon sign can differ from a sibling born two days apart.
Quick reference
The eight phases, the share of the disc lit at each, and what you would see.
| Phase | Roughly lit | Direction | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| New moon | 0% | — | Not visible |
| Waxing crescent | 1-49% | Growing | A thin sliver after sunset |
| First quarter | 50% | Growing | Half lit, rising around midday |
| Waxing gibbous | 51-99% | Growing | More than half, filling out |
| Full moon | 100% | — | The whole face lit, rising at sunset |
| Waning gibbous | 99-51% | Shrinking | Past full, rising later each night |
| Last quarter | 50% | Shrinking | Half lit, rising around midnight |
| Waning crescent | 49-1% | Shrinking | A sliver before dawn |
Reading the table
- Waxing means growing towards full; waning means shrinking towards new.
- The quarters are named for the point in the cycle, not the fraction lit - both show half a disc.
- The whole cycle takes about 29.53 days, which is why phases drift through the calendar.
Moon phase today: common questions
What phase is the Moon in today?
The phase for today is shown above, with the percentage of the disc that is lit. It is recalculated every day from the Moon's 29.53-day cycle.
How long is a full moon cycle?
About 29.53 days from one new moon to the next. That is the synodic month, and it is what this page counts through.
How accurate is this?
The phase is calculated from the Moon's average cycle, so the named phase is right and the new and full moon dates are accurate to within about a day.
Keep the interpretation in proportion
These tools return dates and traditional associations, not predictions. Use them for reflection, and use qualified professionals for health, law, finances, or mental wellbeing.