Moon Phase
What's tonight's moon phase?
Live moon phase and illumination, calculated for right now โ plus how much moonlight might wash out tonight's aurora or stargazing.
๐ Local Lunar Intent: Waxing Gibbous (89% illuminated) right now.
๐ก What This Means for You (Plain English Mode)
The Moon is 89% illuminated right now, 11.6 days into its roughly 29.5-day cycle. Moonlight interference for stargazing is currently rated "high".
๐ Telemetry checked: โ โข Data source: NOAA SWPC
Waxing Gibbous
89% illuminated ยท 11.6 days old
Illumination
Earth-Moon Distance
Next Full Moon
Next New Moon
Next 14 days
How moon phase affects aurora viewing
Moonlight scatters through the atmosphere the same way sunlight does, just far dimmer โ but a bright, near-full moon can still wash out faint aurora, especially a weak G1 display. Around the new moon, skies are at their darkest, so even a modest aurora glow becomes easier to see. Check the aurora forecast alongside tonight's moon phase for the best read on visibility.
FAQ
What is the moon phase today?
Today's moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, 89% illuminated.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is on July 29, 2026.
When is the next new moon?
The next new moon is on August 13, 2026.
Explore the night sky
Beyond the moon, see what constellations and Milky Way visibility look like this month, or check the aurora forecast and planet guide for tonight.
๐ See the Night Sky Tonight๐ Local Moonrise & Moonset
๐ Regional Space Weather Network
๐ก National Solar Activity Briefing๐ Understanding Kp Index Requirementsโ๏ธ Real-Time CME & Near-Earth Object Tracker๐ Local Lunar Illumination & Phase Calculatorโ๏ธ Solar Elevation & Weather Analytics๐บ๏ธ California Aurora Forecast Hub๐บ๏ธ Texas Aurora Forecast Hub๐บ๏ธ New York Aurora Forecast Hub๐ Educational Guide: Demystifying Moon Phases
The 29.5-Day Synodic Month Cycle
The Moon takes about 29.5 days to cycle through all its phases as seen from Earth โ a period astronomers call the synodic month. This is slightly longer than the Moon's actual 27.3-day orbital period around Earth (the sidereal month), because Earth itself is also moving around the Sun, so the Moon needs a bit of extra travel each cycle to return to the same alignment with the Sun as seen from Earth.
Waxing vs. Waning Terminology
"Waxing" describes the Moon's illuminated portion growing larger, moving from new moon toward full moon. "Waning" describes it shrinking, moving from full moon back toward new moon. Combined with "crescent" (less than half illuminated) and "gibbous" (more than half illuminated), these terms describe all 8 recognized phases of the lunar cycle.
Ocean Tidal Gravitational Pull Systems
The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, creating a bulge of water on the side of Earth closest to the Moon, and โ due to inertia โ a second bulge on the opposite side. As Earth rotates through these two bulges roughly once a day, most coastlines experience two high tides and two low tides daily. The Sun contributes a smaller gravitational pull too, which is why tides are especially strong (spring tides) near new and full moon, when the Sun and Moon align.