The Moon moves through eight phases over about 29.5 days — and you can see the exact phase right now, plus the next full and new Moon, on the live [Moon phase today](/moon) page.
The eight phases of the Moon
The lunar cycle runs: New Moon → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter → Waxing Gibbous → Full Moon → Waning Gibbous → Last Quarter → Waning Crescent, then back to New Moon. One full cycle (a synodic month) takes 29.53 days.
| Phase | What you see |
|---|---|
| New Moon | Invisible — Moon between Earth and Sun |
| First Quarter | Right half lit |
| Full Moon | Fully lit disc |
| Last Quarter | Left half lit |
When is the next full Moon?
Full and new Moon dates change every month. The Moon phase today tool shows the current illumination, the next full Moon and the next new Moon for your location, updated live. To see which planets are out after dark, open night sky tonight.
Why the Moon drives so many calendars
Because the lunar cycle is so regular, many cultures built calendars on it. The Islamic Hijri calendar is purely lunar, so Ramadan and Eid follow the Moon. The Chinese calendar and Hindu calendar are lunisolar — Moon-based but adjusted to the seasons. See how they compare in calendar systems of the world.
FAQ
What Moon phase is it today? Check the live Moon phase today page for the exact current phase and illumination percentage.
How long is the lunar cycle? About 29.5 days from one new Moon to the next.