🌙 Moon Phase Today: New Moon
Tonight the moon is in its New Moon phase, with 0.0% illumination and an age of 29.4 days since the last new moon. This page updates automatically every day using a precise astronomical calculation based on the moon's 29.53-day synodic cycle, so you instantly know tonight's moon shape, its illumination percentage, and the date of the nearest full and new moon.
New Moon
Illumination: 0.0% · Moon age: 29.4 days
Next full moon: 2026-10-26 · Next new moon: 2026-10-11
What is a moon phase and why does its shape change?
The moon is a dark body that produces no light of its own — what we see is sunlight reflected off its surface. As the moon orbits Earth roughly every 29.5 days, the illuminated portion visible from Earth changes gradually, moving from complete darkness through a thin crescent, to a quarter moon, then a full moon, before reversing back to the next new moon. This regular change is what's known as the lunar phases, a fixed astronomical phenomenon that can be calculated precisely for any day in the past or future — which is exactly what this page uses to show today's moon phase moment by moment.
The eight lunar phases in detail
Over its monthly cycle, the moon passes through eight main phases, beginning and ending at the new moon. The table below shows each phase and its approximate position in the lunar cycle:
| Phase | Description | Approx. illumination |
|---|---|---|
| New Moon | The moon sits between Earth and the sun, its lit face turned completely away from us, so it disappears from view | 0% |
| Waxing Crescent | A thin sliver of light appears right after the new moon and grows larger day by day | 1% – 49% |
| First Quarter | Exactly half the disc is lit, visible in the sky during the afternoon and evening | ≈ 50% |
| Waxing Gibbous | More than half the disc is lit, its shape approaching full | 51% – 99% |
| Full Moon | The entire disc is lit, facing the sun directly, visible throughout the night | 100% |
| Waning Gibbous | Illumination begins to recede after the full moon | 99% – 51% |
| Last Quarter | Half the disc is lit from the opposite side, rising after midnight | ≈ 50% |
| Waning Crescent | A thin sliver appears just before dawn, leading into the next new moon | 49% – 1% |
By astronomical calculation, the moon today is on day 29.4 of this cycle — that is, in its New Moon phase with 0.0% illumination.
How lunar phases relate to the Hijri calendar and moon sighting
The Hijri calendar is based on lunar months, where a new month begins with the sighting of the crescent moon or its astronomical calculation, depending on the authority followed in each country. That's why major Islamic occasions — the start of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the Day of Arafah — are directly tied to the moon's phase and crescent sighting. To find today's Hijri date or convert a Gregorian date to Hijri, see the Hijri Date Today and Date Converter pages.
Does the moon affect tides?
Yes — the moon's gravitational pull is the main driver of tides in Earth's oceans and seas. This effect peaks (known as a spring tide) around the full moon and the new moon, when the sun, moon, and Earth align in a nearly straight line, combining both bodies' gravity. During the first and last quarter phases, when the moon forms roughly a right angle with the sun relative to Earth, tides are at their weakest — known as a neap tide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Today's Moon
What is today's moon phase?
The moon today is in its New Moon phase, with 0.0% illumination and an age of 29.4 days since the last new moon.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is on 2026-10-26.
When is the next new moon?
The next new moon is on 2026-10-11.
How long is a full lunar cycle?
The moon's synodic cycle lasts about 29.53 days from new moon to new moon, which is the basis for the Hijri months.
What's the difference between a full moon and a new moon?
A full moon is when the moon is 100% illuminated, facing the sun directly, while a new moon is when its light disappears completely as it sits between Earth and the sun.
How is the moon's illumination percentage calculated?
Illumination is calculated astronomically from the angle between the moon and the sun as seen from Earth, changing gradually each day through the lunar cycle.