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Moon phases: the lunar calendar
The Moon right now
Waxing crescent, 17 % illuminated, day 4 of the cycle.
Next full moon: Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 14:53. Next new moon: Wednesday 9 December 2026 at 00:51 (UK time).
Moonrise and moonset in London this week
| Day | In the evening | Moonrise | Moonset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 13 November 2026 | Waxing crescent, 18 % | 11:43 | 18:42 |
| Saturday 14 November 2026 | Waxing crescent, 26 % | 12:16 | 19:50 |
| Sunday 15 November 2026 | Waxing crescent, 35 % | 12:41 | 21:02 |
| Monday 16 November 2026 | Waxing crescent, 44 % | 12:59 | 22:16 |
| Tuesday 17 November 2026 | First quarter, 54 % | 13:14 | 23:29 |
| Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Waxing gibbous, 64 % | 13:26 | none that day |
| Thursday 19 November 2026 | Waxing gibbous, 73 % | 13:38 | 00:43 |
London times, for a clear horizon. Each day the Moon rises about 50 minutes later than the day before: on some days it does not rise (or set) between midnight and midnight. For your city, open its page.
Lunar calendar (UK time)
| Month | New moon | First quarter | Full moon | Last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | — | 17 at 11:47 | 24 at 14:53 | — |
| December 2026 | 9 at 00:51 | 17 at 05:42 | 24 at 01:28 | 1 at 06:08, 30 at 18:59 |
| January 2027 | 7 at 20:24 | 15 at 20:34 | 22 at 12:17 | 29 at 10:55 |
| February 2027 | 6 at 15:56 | 14 at 07:58 | 20 at 23:23 | 28 at 05:16 |
| March 2027 | 8 at 09:29 | 15 at 16:25 | 22 at 10:43 | 30 at 01:53 |
| April 2027 | 7 at 00:51 | 13 at 23:56 | 20 at 23:27 | 28 at 21:17 |
| May 2027 | 6 at 11:58 | 13 at 05:43 | 20 at 11:58 | 28 at 14:57 |
| June 2027 | 4 at 20:40 | 11 at 11:56 | 19 at 01:44 | 27 at 05:54 |
| July 2027 | 4 at 04:02 | 10 at 19:38 | 18 at 16:44 | 26 at 17:54 |
| August 2027 | 2 at 11:05, 31 at 18:41 | 9 at 05:54 | 17 at 08:28 | 25 at 03:27 |
| September 2027 | 30 at 03:36 | 7 at 19:31 | 16 at 00:03 | 23 at 11:20 |
| October 2027 | 29 at 14:36 | 7 at 12:47 | 15 at 14:47 | 22 at 18:29 |
| November 2027 | 28 at 03:24 | 6 at 08:00 | 14 at 03:25 | 21 at 00:48 |
Moments worked out with Jean Meeus’s astronomical algorithms, to the minute. For another place, use the time zone converter.
The lunar cycle
The Moon gives off no light of its own: it reflects the Sun’s. As it goes round the Earth, it shows us a larger or smaller part of its lit side. On average 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes pass from one new moon to the next (the synodic month), with differences of several hours from month to month.
- New moon: the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun; its lit side is hidden from us. It is the only phase when a solar eclipse can happen.
- First quarter, a week later: the right half of the disc is lit; the Moon rises around midday and sets around midnight.
- Full moon: the Moon is opposite the Sun and fully lit; it rises at sunset and shines all night. The only phase of lunar eclipses.
- Last quarter: the left half is lit; the Moon rises around midnight and stays visible in the morning.
These descriptions apply to the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, in Sydney or Cape Town, the Moon looks “upside down”: the first quarter is lit on the left. Near the equator, the crescent lies on its back, like a smile.
Moonless nights are the best for watching meteor showers.
The moments of the phases are the same all over the Earth; only the local time changes. A full moon at 01:00 in London falls at 20:00 the day before in New York.