The eight phases are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. The cycle takes about 29.5 days from one new moon to the next, which is called a synodic month.
Pick a date below to see the moon phase, exact illumination percentage, lunar age in days, and how many days remain until the next major phase. Today's data loads automatically.
Pair the lunar phase with your full birth chart for a deeper reading.
Try the Zodiac CalculatorEach phase covers roughly 3.7 days, with the four major phases (new, first quarter, full, last quarter) marking the exact transitions.
The display starts with a moon graphic that visually mirrors the current illumination - dark when the moon is new, half lit at the quarters, and a complete glowing disc at the full moon. Beside the graphic you see four data points that astronomers and astrologers use interchangeably.
Illumination percentage tells you how much of the lunar disc the sun lights from our viewpoint. New moon is 0%, full moon is 100%, and a first quarter is exactly 50%. The number does not move in a straight line - it accelerates near the quarters and slows near the new and full extremes.
Lunar age is the number of days since the most recent new moon. The full lunar cycle - the synodic month - is 29.530588853 days long. So a lunar age of 7.4 days places you near first quarter, an age of 14.8 days places you at full moon, and 22.1 days lands at last quarter.
Phase angle is the same information expressed in degrees. The cycle covers 360 degrees, with new moon at 0, first quarter at 90, full moon at 180, and last quarter at 270. Phase angle is what astronomy software uses internally and what you will see on serious sky-tracking apps.
Trend tells you whether the moon is currently waxing (growing toward full) or waning (shrinking toward new). The waxing half of the cycle stretches from new moon to full moon, and the waning half from full moon back to new.
The 29 day cycle gives you a built-in calendar for inner work. Many traditions assign distinct intentions to each phase, and the pattern is consistent across cultures because the structure of the rhythm itself - build, peak, release, rest - lines up with how human attention naturally cycles.
The new moon is the seed point of the cycle. Astrologically and in most contemplative traditions, this is when intentions are set. The sky is darkest at new moon, which makes it a good time for stargazing, deep rest, and writing rather than launching publicly.
Light begins to return. The waxing crescent is associated with momentum, courage to commit, and small first actions on whatever was set in motion at the new moon. This is the part of the cycle that rewards starting before you feel ready.
The first quarter is the cycle's first decision point. Resistance and obstacles tend to surface here. In old folk traditions this was a time to commit to a chosen path or to course-correct. Half the moon is now visible at sunset, high in the sky.
Refinement phase. The work is mostly built but not yet revealed. Waxing gibbous evenings are optically beautiful - the moon rises in the afternoon and stays up most of the night.
The full moon is the cycle's peak - maximum visibility, maximum light, maximum intensity. Across traditions it is associated with completion, release, and emotional clarity. Sleep can be lighter on the brightest nights of the month, and many people report stronger dreams.
The release phase. Energy is high but starting to integrate. This is where you turn outward and share what came to light - tradition calls it the dissemination phase. The moon now rises after sunset.
The cycle's second decision point. Last quarter asks what to keep and what to let go. In sky terms, the moon now rises near midnight and is high overhead at sunrise.
The final sliver. This is the surrender phase - rest, review, and prepare the seed for the next new moon. The moon is up only briefly before dawn.
The core engine is one constant and one reference point. The synodic month - the time from one new moon to the next as observed from Earth - is 29.530588853 days. The reference new moon used here is January 6, 2000 at 18:14 UTC, a published Julian date that astronomers use for calibration.
To compute the phase for any date, the calculator finds the number of days between your chosen date and the reference new moon, divides by 29.530588853, and keeps only the fractional part. That fraction times 29.53 days gives you lunar age. The same fraction times 360 gives you phase angle. Illumination is then derived from the cosine of phase angle, scaled to a 0 - 100 range. The named phase comes from binning the angle into eight equal slices.
This shortcut is accurate to within a few hours over the next century - more than enough for naming the phase, planning a ritual, or knowing whether tonight will be bright. It does not account for the moon's slightly elliptical orbit, which is the small remaining wobble.
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See Premium Moon BundleThe calculator uses the synodic month of 29.530588853 days and a known reference new moon (January 6, 2000 at 18:14 UTC). Phase position is accurate to within a few hours - more than enough to know the named phase and illumination percentage. For exact rise and set times you also need a location, which this tool does not require.
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. The cycle takes about 29.5 days from one new moon to the next, which is called a synodic month.
Illumination percentage is how much of the moon's near-side disc is lit by the sun as seen from Earth. New moon is 0%, full moon is 100%, and the quarters are exactly 50%. The number rises and falls with the phase.
Across many traditions the lunar cycle is treated as a built-in calendar for inner work. New moon is associated with intention setting, the waxing phase with building and effort, full moon with culmination and release, and the waning phase with letting go and rest. The pattern works because the 29 day cycle gives a steady rhythm to plan and review by, regardless of belief.
Yes - the named phase and illumination percentage are the same worldwide at any given moment. What changes by location is the moon's position in the sky and rise / set times. Northern Hemisphere viewers see a waxing crescent lit on the right side, while Southern Hemisphere viewers see it lit on the left.
A full moon happens roughly every 29.53 days. Most calendar years have 12 full moons, but a year can have 13 - the extra one is called a Blue Moon when it falls as the second full moon in a single calendar month.
Stack the lunar cycle with these companion tools and articles.