Moon Phase Today: Instantly See All 8 Phases for 2025
What's the moon phase today? Get your complete 2025 moon phase calendar, including all 8 phases, supermoons, and eclipses. Connect with the lunar cycle!
Dr. Alistair Finch
Astrophysicist and science communicator sharing the wonders of our solar system.
Have you ever stepped outside at night, looked up, and felt a quiet sense of wonder? High above, the Moon hangs like a celestial lantern, a constant companion on our planet’s journey through space. But it’s a shifty companion, isn’t it? One night it’s a brilliant, perfect circle, and a week later, it’s a sly, silver crescent. You might find yourself asking, "What’s the moon phase today?"
This ever-changing appearance isn’t random; it’s the result of a graceful, predictable dance between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Following this cosmic rhythm can connect us to the natural world in a profound way. That's why we’ve created this complete guide to the Moon's phases for 2025. Here, you'll not only understand the meaning behind each phase but also get a full-year calendar to track them, including special events like supermoons and eclipses.
A Cosmic Dance: Understanding the 8 Moon Phases
The lunar cycle, which lasts about 29.5 days, is divided into eight distinct phases. This cycle is driven by the Moon's orbit around Earth, which changes how much of its sunlit side we can see. The terms waxing mean the visible, illuminated portion is growing, while waning means it's shrinking.
Let's walk through the life of a moonbeam, from darkness back to darkness.
1. New Moon: The Invisible Beginning
A New Moon occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. From our perspective, the side of the Moon facing us is not illuminated. It’s lost in the glare of the Sun, making it invisible to the naked eye. This is the start of the lunar cycle—a clean slate in the night sky. It's a perfect time for stargazing, as the sky is at its darkest.
2. Waxing Crescent: The First Silver Sliver
A day or two after the New Moon, a delicate sliver of light appears in the evening sky. This is the Waxing Crescent. The term "waxing" means it's growing in illumination. This young moon sets shortly after the sun, offering a beautiful, fleeting sight in the twilight.
3. First Quarter: The Half-Moon Milestone
About a week into the cycle, the Moon reaches its First Quarter phase. It looks like a perfect half-circle in the sky. Though called a "quarter," we see half of the Moon's visible surface illuminated. It rises around noon and is high in the sky at sunset, making it a great target for early evening observation.
4. Waxing Gibbous: Almost Full, Growing in Light
The phase between the half-moon and the full moon is the Waxing Gibbous. "Gibbous" refers to the shape being more than half-illuminated but not yet full. During this phase, the Moon appears brighter and more prominent each night, dominating the evening sky and rising later each day.
5. Full Moon: The Brilliant Spectacle
This is the showstopper. A Full Moon happens when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon. The entire side of the Moon facing us is bathed in sunlight, creating a brilliant, luminous orb that can light up the landscape. It rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, staying with us all night long.
6. Waning Gibbous: The Gentle Fade Begins
After the peak of the Full Moon, the light begins to recede. This is the Waning Gibbous phase. The term "waning" means it's shrinking in illumination. The Moon now rises later and later at night, often visible well into the morning hours after the sun has come up.
7. Third Quarter (or Last Quarter): The Other Half
Three weeks into its cycle, the Moon reaches its Third Quarter. Like the First Quarter, it appears as a half-moon. However, it's the *opposite* half that is now illuminated. This moon rises around midnight and is visible in the early morning sky, often seen as a pale companion in the daylight.
8. Waning Crescent: The Final Sliver Before the Dark
In the final days of the lunar cycle, the Moon slims down to a Waning Crescent. This slender sliver, sometimes called the "old moon," is visible just before sunrise in the eastern sky. It grows thinner each day until it disappears once more into the New Moon, ready to begin its journey all over again.
Your Complete 2025 Moon Phase Calendar
Ready to track this celestial rhythm throughout the year? Here are the dates for the four primary moon phases for every month in 2025. All dates are based on UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), so they may vary by a day depending on your local time zone.
| Month | New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Third Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 29 | Jan 6 | Jan 13 | Jan 21 |
| February | Feb 28 | Feb 4 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 |
| March | Mar 29 | Mar 6 | Mar 14 | Mar 22 |
| April | Apr 27 | Apr 4 | Apr 12 | Apr 20 |
| May | May 27 | May 4 | May 12 | May 20 |
| June | Jun 25 | Jun 2 | Jun 11 | Jun 18 |
| July | Jul 25 | Jul 2 & 31 | Jul 10 | Jul 18 |
| August | Aug 23 | Aug 30 | Aug 9 | Aug 16 |
| September | Sep 22 | Sep 28 | Sep 7 | Sep 15 |
| October | Oct 21 | Oct 28 | Oct 7 | Oct 14 |
| November | Nov 20 | Nov 26 | Nov 5 | Nov 13 |
| December | Dec 19 | Dec 26 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 |
Mark Your Calendars: Special Lunar Events in 2025
Beyond the standard phases, 2025 offers some truly spectacular lunar shows. Here are a few dates to circle in red on your calendar!
Total Lunar Eclipses: The "Blood Moon"
A total lunar eclipse happens when the Full Moon passes directly through Earth's darkest shadow, the umbra. This doesn't make the Moon disappear; instead, sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere paints the Moon in stunning shades of red and orange, earning it the nickname "Blood Moon."
- March 14, 2025: A fantastic total lunar eclipse will be visible across North and South America, the Pacific, and western parts of Europe and Africa.
- September 7, 2025: Another total lunar eclipse will grace the skies for observers in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Super Full Moons: Bigger and Brighter
A "Supermoon" is a popular term for when a Full Moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth in its orbit (its perigee). This makes the Moon appear slightly larger and brighter than average—a beautiful sight, especially at moonrise.
- October 7, 2025
- November 5, 2025
- December 5, 2025
The Moon is more than just a rock in the sky; it’s a timekeeper, a muse for poets, and a guide for navigators. It’s a constant reminder of the vast, intricate, and beautiful universe we are a part of. We hope this guide helps you feel more connected to its monthly journey across our skies in 2025. Step outside, look up, and enjoy the show.