Moon Phase Today

The Moon cycles through eight phases over roughly 29.5 days as the angle between the Sun, Earth, and Moon changes. The four primary phases are New Moon (the Moon between Earth and Sun, dark sky), First Quarter (half lit, waxing), Full Moon (fully lit, Earth between Sun and Moon), and Last Quarter (half lit, waning). The four intermediate phases are Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent.

Illumination is the fraction of the Moon disc that appears lit from Earth, from 0 percent at New Moon to 100 percent at Full Moon. It rises through the waxing half of the cycle and falls through the waning half. Two dates with the same illumination can be different phases, one waxing and one waning, which is why the phase name matters alongside the percentage.

Lunar age is the number of days since the last New Moon, counting from 0 up to about 29.5. It is a precise way to locate where the Moon sits in its cycle: roughly 7 days is First Quarter, about 14.8 days is Full Moon, and about 22 days is Last Quarter. The age pairs with the illumination and phase name to fully describe the Moon on any date.

The Moon sign is the zodiac sign the Moon occupies on a given date. The Moon moves quickly, spending roughly two and a half days in each sign, so it changes sign far more often than the Sun. In astrology the Moon sign is associated with emotions, instinct, and inner needs, and many people track it for journaling, ritual timing, and mood reflection.