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Current lunar cycle · refreshed at least hourly

Moon phases

Follow the Moon through its current deterministic phase category, calculated illumination, cycle progress, tropical zodiac position, and exact quarter events. These measurements describe the current sky rather than an individual birth chart.

Waxing Crescent

Waxing at this calculated angle

Current calculated state

Where the Moon is in the cycle now

Phase category

Waxing Crescent

Selected deterministically from the calculated phase angle.

Phase angle

61.80°

Angular progress through the Sun–Moon cycle.

Illumination

26.6%

Cycle progress

17.2%

From one New Moon angle toward the next.

Current tropical Moon position

25° 15′ Scorpio

This is the current Moon longitude and sign calculated for the page-generation instant. It does not identify anyone’s natal Moon sign or natal house.

One continuous cycle

What the lunar phase cycle represents

This site measures the Moon’s phase angle around a complete 360° Sun–Moon cycle. Eight named categories make that continuous measurement easier to read. The labels are assigned from fixed angle ranges in the existing lunar calculation source rather than selected as arbitrary prose.

Four exact quarter events occur at the principal 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° angles. An exact event is one calculated instant; its surrounding phase category covers a wider range of angles.

Measurements are not interchangeable

Phase angle versus illumination

Phase angle measures the Moon’s progress through the current Sun–Moon cycle from 0° through 360°. It determines the phase category and cycle-progress percentage used by this site.

Illumination is the calculated percentage of the Moon’s disc that is lit. It changes with the cycle, but it is a separate measurement from phase angle and must not be used as a substitute for cycle progress.

Canonical presentation set

The eight lunar phase categories

Waxing categories occupy the cycle before the exact 180° Full Moon angle; waning categories occupy the cycle after it. New Moon and Full Moon ranges cross the exact turning points, so the current calculated angle supplies the live waxing or waning state.

transition

Phase 1 · 337.5° through 360°, then 0° through 22.5°

New Moon

The cycle boundary around the exact 0° event

The New Moon category surrounds the point where the phase-angle cycle ends and begins again.

The exact New Moon appears as a major-quarter event in the Moon Phases list and Astrology Calendar.

Astrology commonly treats this phase as symbolic context for beginnings and intention, without guaranteeing an event or personal effect.

waxing

Phase 2 · 22.5° through 67.5°

Waxing Crescent

Between New Moon and First Quarter

The Waxing Crescent is the phase category after the New Moon range and before the First Quarter range.

It is a deterministic current-phase category rather than a separate exact quarter event.

In astrology it may be used as restrained symbolic context for development after a beginning, not as a prediction.

waxing

Phase 3 · 67.5° through 112.5°

First Quarter

Around one quarter of the phase-angle cycle

The First Quarter category surrounds the exact 90° major-quarter event.

The category covers a range; the calendar event identifies the exact 90° instant.

Astrology may frame this quarter as symbolic context for adjustment or action, without claiming a guaranteed result.

waxing

Phase 4 · 112.5° through 157.5°

Waxing Gibbous

Between First Quarter and Full Moon

The Waxing Gibbous is the phase category approaching the Full Moon range while phase angle remains below 180°.

It is shown as a current phase category rather than as one of the four exact quarter events.

Astrology may use it as symbolic context for refinement or preparation, while leaving outcomes undetermined.

transition

Phase 5 · 157.5° through 202.5°

Full Moon

Around the 180° midpoint of the phase-angle cycle

The Full Moon category surrounds the exact 180° point at the middle of the measured cycle.

The exact Full Moon calendar event is distinct from the wider category displayed for nearby angles.

Astrology often uses this phase as symbolic context for culmination or awareness, not as a deterministic personal influence.

waning

Phase 6 · 202.5° through 247.5°

Waning Gibbous

Between Full Moon and Last Quarter

The Waning Gibbous is the phase category after the Full Moon range and before the Last Quarter range.

It is a deterministic phase category and is not an additional exact event identity.

Astrology may use it as symbolic context for review or distribution, without asserting a personal outcome.

waning

Phase 7 · 247.5° through 292.5°

Last Quarter

Around three quarters of the phase-angle cycle

The Last Quarter category surrounds the exact 270° major-quarter event.

The category covers a range; the calendar event identifies the exact 270° instant.

Astrology may frame this quarter as symbolic context for evaluation or release, without guaranteeing change.

waning

Phase 8 · 292.5° through 337.5°

Waning Crescent

Between Last Quarter and the next New Moon range

The Waning Crescent is the final phase category before the cycle returns to the New Moon range.

It describes current cycle position rather than a fifth major-quarter event.

Astrology may use it as symbolic context for closure or reflection, while avoiding deterministic claims.

How to read the numbers

Five related but distinct pieces of information

phase Angle
Phase angle measures the Moon’s progress through the current Sun–Moon cycle from 0° through 360°. It determines the phase category and cycle-progress percentage used by this site.
illumination
Illumination is the calculated percentage of the Moon’s disc that is lit. It changes with the cycle, but it is a separate measurement from phase angle and must not be used as a substitute for cycle progress.
cycle Progress
Cycle progress expresses the phase angle as a percentage of one complete 360° cycle, beginning at one New Moon and continuing toward the next.
waxing Waning
Waxing identifies the half of the cycle before the 180° Full Moon angle; waning identifies the half after 180°. New Moon and Full Moon categories span their turning angles, so the exact calculated angle determines the current state.
current Position
Moon longitude and zodiac sign describe the Moon’s current tropical position. They are different from the Sun–Moon phase angle and from an individual natal Moon placement.
exact Events
Major-quarter events are exact calculated instants at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, not the full duration of the surrounding eight-phase categories.

Exact calculated events

The four major lunar quarters

New Moon

Exact 0°

The exact 0° event begins a new measured lunar cycle. The broader New Moon category also includes nearby angles on either side of that instant.

First Quarter

Exact 90°

The exact 90° event marks one quarter of the measured phase-angle cycle.

Full Moon

Exact 180°

The exact 180° event marks the midpoint of the measured cycle and the transition from waxing to waning.

Last Quarter

Exact 270°

The exact 270° event marks three quarters of the measured phase-angle cycle.

Astronomy Engine quarter search

Next major lunar events

Exact times shown in UTC

Friday, September 18, 2026

First Quarter

20:44 UTC

25° 57′ Sagittarius50.1% illuminated

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Full Moon

16:49 UTC

3° 37′ Aries99.9% illuminated

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Last Quarter

13:25 UTC

10° 21′ Cancer50.1% illuminated

Saturday, October 10, 2026

New Moon

15:50 UTC

17° 21′ Libra0.1% illuminated

Sunday, October 18, 2026

First Quarter

16:13 UTC

25° 18′ Capricorn50.1% illuminated

Monday, October 26, 2026

Full Moon

04:12 UTC

2° 46′ Taurus99.8% illuminated

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Last Quarter

20:28 UTC

9° 26′ Leo50.1% illuminated

Monday, November 9, 2026

New Moon

07:02 UTC

16° 53′ Scorpio0.2% illuminated

Current Moon

Current lunar state is not a natal Moon

This page calculates one shared current sky. A natal Moon placement requires an actual Birth Chart calculation for a specific birth instant and place. The current phase, sign, and longitude must not be substituted for that natal placement.

Astrology context

Symbolic context without guaranteed effects

The phase descriptions provide restrained astrology context for reflection. They do not claim that a current phase determines anyone’s mood, health, relationships, finances, choices, or future events. The site’s Horoscopes provide the separate generic period-reading experience.