Questions and bridges
What Is the Moon Phase Today, and How Can You Tell?
The Moon’s phase depends on how much of its sunlit half we can see from Earth. The Astronativa Moon calendar shows today’s phase exactly, and in the sky you can read it from the lit shape and from when the Moon rises.
Quick answer
Open the Moon calendar on Astronativa for today’s phase and illumination percentage. If you are outdoors, a few simple clues will do the job.
Reading it in the sky
The Moon makes no light of its own; it reflects sunlight. Half of it is always lit, but as it orbits Earth we see changing portions of that half. These are the Moon phases.
- New Moon: nearly invisible, since it lies in the Sun’s direction.
- Waxing Moon: the right side is lit (from the northern hemisphere), and it shows in the evening sky.
- Full Moon: a complete bright disc, rising around sunset.
- Waning Moon: the left side is lit, and it appears late at night and toward morning.
Memory tip: if the crescent looks like the letter “C”, the Moon is waning; if it curves the other way, like the round side of a “D”, it is waxing. This works for the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the picture is mirrored.
A little context
One cycle from new Moon to the next lasts about 29.5 days, which is why phases return roughly monthly. To learn about the body itself, see the Moon.
In the astrological tradition, the phases are linked with a rhythm of beginning, growth, culmination and release. That is a symbolic language for reflection, not a scientific claim that the Moon causes events.
Questions and answers
Why does the Moon look different each night?
Because the Moon orbits Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon keeps changing, so we see a different share of its lit side.
How do I tell a waxing Moon from a waning one?
From the northern hemisphere, a waxing Moon is lit on the right and a waning Moon on the left. Waxing shows in the evening; waning late at night and in the morning.
Related articles
The Moon: Earth’s CompanionMoon Phases: Why the Moon Changes ShapeThe Moon in Astrology and Your Moon SignWhat Is the Difference Between Astronomy and AstrologyHow to Stargaze: A Beginner’s GuideSources
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