Moon Phase Calculator
Pick a date and time to see how the Moon looks, how much of it is lit and when the next new and full moons fall. Times default to Pakistan Standard Time.
Moon phase
Phase, illumination, age and distance, with the next new and full moon.
Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+5, with no daylight saving.
Choose a date and time to see the Moon's phase.
How this is calculated
- 1
Find the Sun and Moon
The Sun's longitude comes from its mean longitude L0 = 280.46646 + 36000.76983T plus the equation of centre, where T is Julian centuries since 1 January 2000. The Moon's starts from L′ = 218.3164477 + 481267.88123421T and adds its largest periodic terms, led by 6.289° sin M′ and 1.274° sin(2D − M′).
- 2
Measure the elongation
The elongation e is the Moon's longitude minus the Sun's, from 0° to 360°. It is 0° at new moon, 90° at first quarter, 180° at full moon and 270° at last quarter.
- 3
Illumination and age
The lit fraction is (1 − cos e) / 2, and the age is e / 360 × 29.530589 days, the average time from one new moon to the next.
- 4
Step to the next phase
For each principal phase the calculator jumps ahead by the angle still to go divided by 12.19° a day, the Moon's average gain on the Sun, then repeats the step until the time settles to within seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Moon phase today?
The calculator opens on the current date and time in Pakistan Standard Time and shows the phase, how much of the disc is lit and the Moon's age in days. Change the date to check any other day.
When is the next full moon?
The result lists the next full moon with its date and time, along with the next new moon and both quarters. The full moon happens at one instant, but the Moon looks full for about a day either side.
Why does Eid not always match the new moon date?
The astronomical new moon is when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, and it cannot be seen then. An Islamic month starts once the thin crescent is sighted, usually a day or two later. In Pakistan that decision rests with the Ruet-e-Hilal committee.
What is a supermoon?
A full moon that happens when the Moon is near the closest point of its orbit, usually taken as closer than about 360,000 km. It looks around 7% larger and 15% brighter than an average full moon, which is hard to notice without a side-by-side photo.