Moon Phases
Today's moon phase, illumination, moonrise and moonset times, and next full and new moon dates — for any timezone.
The 8 Moon Phases Explained
The moon doesn't produce its own light — it reflects sunlight. The phase you see depends on how much of the sunlit side faces Earth. As the moon orbits Earth over 29.5 days, the angle between the moon, Earth, and sun changes, revealing different portions of the illuminated half.
New Moon (0% illumination) → Waxing Crescent → First Quarter (50%, right half lit) → Waxing Gibbous → Full Moon (100%) → Waning Gibbous → Last Quarter (50%, left half lit) → Waning Crescent → back to New Moon. "Waxing" means growing; "waning" means shrinking. "Gibbous" describes any phase where more than half the disc is lit.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the moon appears rotated 180° compared to the Northern Hemisphere view. A waxing crescent in London shows the lit edge on the right; in Sydney, it shows on the left. The phase is identical — just the orientation differs.
Moon Phases and Timezones
The moment of a full moon or new moon is a single instant in universal time — but what date that falls on depends on your timezone. A full moon at 23:30 UTC is on Monday for anyone west of UTC, but already Tuesday for anyone at UTC+1 or beyond. This is why moon phase calendars sometimes show different dates for the same event depending on where they were produced.
Moonrise and moonset times vary significantly by location and timezone. Near the equinoxes, the full moon rises close to sunset. Near the solstices, the timing shifts more dramatically. The tool above uses your selected timezone to show accurate local moonrise and moonset times.
To convert the moonrise time shown to another timezone, use the Time Zone Converter.
Moon Illumination and Agriculture
Biodynamic farming and traditional agricultural calendars have tracked moon phases for planting and harvesting for centuries. The general principle: plant crops that grow above ground (fruits, flowers, grains) during the waxing phase when the moon is pulling moisture upward; plant root vegetables during the waning phase. Whether or not the science fully supports this, the lunar calendar continues to influence farming communities worldwide.
Fishing is similarly moon-influenced. Fish feed more actively around the full and new moon because tidal forces are stronger — the gravitational pull of the moon affects water movement even in rivers and inland waters, not just ocean tides. Many fishing guides publish "best times" tables based on moon phase and position.
The moon phase also affects nighttime visibility — a full moon provides significant ambient light (roughly 0.1–0.3 lux), while a new moon night is much darker. This matters for astronomy, wildlife tracking, outdoor photography, and night navigation. For travel planning across time zones, combine this with the World Clock to know when moonrise and sunset overlap at your destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 8 moon phases?
The 8 moon phases in order are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. One complete cycle (new moon to new moon) takes approximately 29.5 days.
How is the moon phase calculated?
Moon phase is calculated from the synodic period — the time between two identical phases, which averages 29.530589 days. The phase on any given date is determined by how many days have elapsed since the last new moon, expressed as a fraction of the synodic period. 0% = new moon, 50% = full moon, 100% = back to new moon.
Does the moon phase depend on your location?
The moon phase itself (new, crescent, full, etc.) is the same worldwide on any given day — everyone on Earth sees the same phase. What varies by location is the moonrise and moonset times, the height of the moon in the sky, and the orientation of the crescent (it appears flipped in the Southern Hemisphere).
When is the next full moon?
The tool above shows the next full moon date for your selected timezone. Full moons occur approximately every 29.5 days. Because the full moon is a specific moment in time (not a whole day), the calendar date of the full moon can differ by one day depending on your timezone.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon being near its closest point to Earth (perigee). The moon appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon. Supermoons happen 3–4 times per year because the moon's orbit is elliptical, not circular.