The Moon
The 8 Moon Phases in Order
The Moon runs one full cycle in about 29.5 days, from new to full and back to new. Eight phases mark the trip: four exact instants and four spans of nights between them.
The order
All eight phases, in order
| Order | Phase | Illumination | Days after new |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Moon | 0 percent (instant) | Day 0 |
| 2 | Waxing Crescent Moon | 0 to 50 percent, waxing | Days 1 to 6.5 |
| 3 | First Quarter Moon | 50 percent (instant) | Day 7.4 |
| 4 | Waxing Gibbous Moon | 50 to 99 percent, waxing | Days 7 to 15 |
| 5 | Full Moon | 100 percent (instant) | Day 14.8 |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous Moon | 99 to 50 percent, waning | Days 15 to 22 |
| 7 | Last Quarter Moon | 50 percent (instant) | Day 22.1 |
| 8 | Waning Crescent Moon | 50 to 0 percent, waning | Days 22 to 29.5 |
Timing figures follow the U.S. Naval Observatory and NASA. The four quarter moments are instants; the phases between them are spans of nights.
The phases
A page for every phase
The reading
Reading the cycle
The waxing half of the month, new moon to full, favors starting, building, and pushing through friction. The waning half, full back to new, favors sharing, clearing, and rest. Tonight's phase is read on the Moon tonight, and the Moon's place in the zodiac on moon in your sign.
Your Primal Zodiac Animal is what we call your Zodi Animal, and each of the 144 rides this cycle in its own way. Reveal your animal for the version keyed to your nature.
Common questions
Questions about the moon phases
What are the 8 moon phases in order?
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. Then the cycle starts again at the new moon.
How long is a lunar cycle?
About 29.5 days from one new moon to the next, a stretch called the synodic month. The four primary phases are exact instants; the four phases between them each span about 7.4 days on average.
Why does the cycle take 29.5 days when the Moon orbits Earth in 27.3?
Because the Earth is moving too. While the Moon completes one orbit, the Earth travels along its own path around the Sun, so the Moon needs about two extra days to catch up to the same angle with the Sun and show the same phase again.