New Moon
The Moon sits between Earth and Sun. Its far side catches all the light; we see nothing. Traditionally a start-over moment — new projects, fresh intentions. Skies are dark enough to see the Milky Way clearly if you're away from city lights.
Earth's Oldest Companion
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Waning Gibbous
Moon Phase Today
Live lunar phase, illumination percentage, and a full calendar of upcoming full moons for 2026 — including traditional names and rare events.
Next full moon: Flower Moon in 27 days
Next Full Moons
Flower Moon
May 1
27 days away
Blue Moon
May 31
56 days away
Strawberry Moon
Jun 30
86 days away
Buck Moon
Jul 29
115 days away
Sturgeon Moon
Aug 28
145 days away
Harvest Moon
Sep 26
174 days away
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Check todayFull Moon Calendar 2026
Wolf Moon
Jan 3, Sat
Snow Moon
Feb 2, Mon
Worm Moon
Mar 3, Tue
Pink Moon
Apr 2, Thu
Flower Moon
May 1, Fri
Blue Moon
May 31, Sun
Strawberry Moon
Jun 30, Tue
Buck Moon
Jul 29, Wed
Sturgeon Moon
Aug 28, Fri
Harvest Moon
Sep 26, Sat
Hunter's Moon
Oct 26, Mon
Beaver Moon
Nov 24, Tue
Cold Moon
Dec 24, Thu
The 8 Lunar Phases
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Third Quarter
Waning Crescent
How Moon Phases Actually Work
The Moon doesn't change shape — we just see different slices of its sunlit half. As it orbits Earth, the angle between Sun, Moon, and viewer shifts a little each day, and that's the whole trick. Same sphere, always half-lit, rotating viewpoint.
A complete cycle from new moon back to new moon takes 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes. That's the synodic month. It's slightly longer than the sidereal month (27.3 days) because Earth keeps moving around the Sun while the Moon is trying to catch up.
Which is why full moons drift through the calendar. Two in January, none in February some years, two again in March. The calendar and the Moon never quite agree — when they fall out of sync hard enough, we get Blue Moons.
What Each Phase Means
Waxing Crescent
A silver sliver on the western horizon after sunset. Thin, often visible for just an hour before it follows the Sun down. Growth phase — energy building, but quietly.
First Quarter
Exactly half lit, rises around noon, sets around midnight. The Moon sits 90° from the Sun in our sky. Traditionally a decision point: whatever you started at the new moon is pushing through.
Waxing Gibbous
More than half, not quite full. "Gibbous" comes from Latin for hump. Actually better for outdoor reading than a full moon — the shadows are sharper.
Full Moon
Opposite side of Earth from the Sun. Rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, lights the whole night. Peak emotional weight across folklore — and sleep labs have confirmed people really do sleep lighter around full moons, even with no visible moonlight. Traditionally a time for gratitude, celebration, and noticing what the cycle brought you.
Waning Gibbous
Full minus a day or two. Rises after sunset, visible through early morning. Traditionally a release phase — letting go, gratitude, harvesting what the cycle grew.
Third Quarter
Half lit on the opposite side from First Quarter. Rises at midnight, sets at noon. The Moon is back to 90° — just on the other side. A turning-inward phase in most traditions.
Waning Crescent
The mirror of Waxing Crescent. Visible in the east before dawn. Thin, quiet, closing the cycle. Three days later, new moon.
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Open forecastCommon Questions
Why does the full moon look huge when it rises?
The Moon illusion. Measured with a camera, it's the same size whether on the horizon or overhead. Your brain compares it to trees and buildings and overestimates. Try viewing it upside-down between your legs — the illusion disappears completely.
What is a Blue Moon?
The second full moon in a calendar month. Happens because the lunar cycle is 29.5 days — most months fit one full moon, but a few have room for two. The next Blue Moon is May 31, 2026. The color has nothing to do with it; actual blue-tinted moons require volcanic ash or wildfire smoke in the atmosphere.
Does the moon phase affect sleep?
Yes, modestly. Researchers have tracked people in sleep labs and across multiple continents and found the same pattern: lighter sleep and about 20 fewer minutes of rest around full moons, even with no visible moonlight reaching them. Nobody has a good explanation yet — but if you've always felt restless on full-moon nights, you're not imagining it.
What's the best phase for stargazing?
New moon or a few days either side. No lunar glare means faint objects — nebulae, galaxies, the Milky Way — are visible. The full moon is bright enough to wash out most deep-sky astronomy. Astrophotographers plan sessions around new moon weeks.
Why are full moons named after animals?
The names come from Native American, Colonial, and European farming traditions tied to seasonal patterns — Wolf Moon for hungry January wolves, Worm Moon for March's thawing soil, Harvest Moon for September's late-night crop gathering. The Old Farmer's Almanac popularized the current list starting in the 1930s.
Can the moon phase influence mood?
The research is mixed. Some ER-visit studies show tiny bumps around full moons; others find nothing. Self-reported anxiety and sleep disruption correlate more consistently. Whether that's biology or expectation effect is an open question, and the studies aren't large enough to settle it.
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Our Earth Core display shows the moon phase in real-time alongside Schumann resonance and solar activity.
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