Moon Phase Today
What phase is the Moon in tonight? Here is the answer, worked out from your own clock: the phase, how much of it is lit, the sign it is passing through in both Western and Vedic astrology, and the lunar day. Below it you'll find what the phase means and a ritual to match.
Tonight's Moon
Checking the sky…
What This Phase Means
Every phase has a meaning, a mood, and a small ritual. Tonight's will appear here.
The Eight Phases at a Glance
The Moon takes about 29.5 days to move from one New Moon to the next, passing through eight named phases on the way. Tap any phase for its full ritual, candle, and crystal on the Moon & Magic page, along with the Vedic view of the same night.
Common Questions
What does waxing and waning mean?
Waxing means the Moon's lit side is growing from night to night, on its way from New to Full. Waning means it is shrinking again, on its way from Full back to New. In the Northern Hemisphere, a waxing Moon is lit on its right side and a waning Moon on its left.
How long is the lunar cycle?
About 29.5 days from one New Moon to the next. Western astrology names the phases along the way. Vedic astrology counts the same journey in thirty lunar days called tithis, in two halves: the bright half (Shukla Paksha) as the Moon grows, and the dark half (Krishna Paksha) as it fades.
What is a moon sign?
It is the zodiac sign the Moon is passing through. The Moon changes sign about every two and a half days. Western astrology measures the signs from the seasons, while Vedic astrology measures them from the fixed stars, so the two often name different signs for the same night. Neither is wrong; they are two ways of reading the same sky.
How accurate is this page?
It is worked out right in your browser from the Moon's and Sun's positions, close enough for everyday use. Times for sign changes and lunar days can be off by an hour or two, and the phase can differ from an almanac by a few hours near the edges of a phase.