Moon Phase Today
Waning Crescent
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Illumination
1%
Moon Sign
A Aries
12.6°
Phase Angle
346.5°
fire element
Waning Crescent Guidance
Rest and reflect. Surrender to stillness before renewal.
Moon in Aries
Start something. The urge to move is the message.
The Moon changes every day. Atlas makes it a practice.
Today's Moon phase sets a rhythm, but how it affects you depends on your natal chart. The Constellation Atlas integrates lunar phases into your daily practice: prompts connected to the current phase and your natal Moon, building awareness you can carry into each day.
Understanding moon phases
The Moon completes one full cycle — new to new — every 29.53 days (the synodic month). This cycle divides into eight phases: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. The four cardinal phases — New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, Last Quarter — center on the exact Sun-Moon angles of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The four intermediate phases fill the spans between them.
Alongside the phase, the Moon's zodiac sign shifts roughly every 2 to 2.5 days, adding a second layer of meaning. In the horary tradition, astrologers also track the void-of-course Moon, a window after the Moon's last major aspect before it changes sign, traditionally considered unfavorable for starting new ventures. Our tracker shows real-time phase, illumination, sign, and degree with arc-second precision using NASA's ANISE toolkit, updated hourly.
How moon phases affect daily life
Many people time important activities around the lunar cycle. New Moons favor setting intentions and starting projects, while the waxing phases (Waxing Crescent through Waxing Gibbous) build momentum toward the Full Moon — an ideal time for culmination, celebration, and visibility. The waning phases (Waning Gibbous through Waning Crescent) then invite release, reflection, and preparation for the next cycle.
The Moon sign adds texture. A Moon in earthy Taurus grounds emotions and favors practical tasks; a Moon in airy Gemini heightens curiosity and communication; a Moon in watery Scorpio deepens intensity and introspection. Combining phase energy with sign energy gives you a nuanced daily compass — not just what to do, buthow the day's emotional climate supports it.
Astrologer Dane Rudhyar also showed that the Moon phase at the moment of birth shapes personality. People born under a New Moon tend to be instinctive and subjective, while Full Moon natives are more objective and relationship-oriented. Balsamic Moon types often carry a visionary or prophetic quality. Knowing your natal Moon phase adds a dimension that your Moon sign alone doesn't capture.
More Free Tools
Void of Course Moon Calendar
Check if the Moon is void of course right now and see upcoming VOC dates, times, and durations.
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Electional Astrology Calculator
Find the best dates for weddings, business launches, travel, and more using traditional electional astrology rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What moon phase is it today?
This page shows the current lunar phase in real time, including the phase name, illumination percentage, moon sign, degree, and phase angle. Data is updated hourly using NASA's ANISE toolkit for precise astronomical calculations.
How often is the moon phase data updated?
Moon phase data is recalculated every hour from live astronomical ephemeris data. Illumination percentage, lunar sign, and degree are all computed fresh, not pulled from static tables.
What are the 8 moon phases?
The 8 phases are: New Moon (0-45 degrees), Waxing Crescent (45-90), First Quarter (90-135), Waxing Gibbous (135-180), Full Moon (180-225), Waning Gibbous (225-270), Last Quarter (270-315), and Waning Crescent (315-360). Each carries its own energetic qualities for timing decisions and rituals.
How does the moon sign affect emotions?
The moon sign colors the emotional atmosphere for everyone, regardless of your natal chart. For example, Moon in Cancer heightens sensitivity and nurturing instincts, while Moon in Aries can spark impulsive feelings. When you know your natal Moon sign, you can also track when the transiting Moon conjuncts or aspects it for especially potent emotional days.
What's the difference between moon phase and moon sign?
Moon phase describes the Sun-Moon angle (how much of the Moon is illuminated), while moon sign is the zodiac constellation the Moon currently occupies. Both change on different cycles — the phase cycle is about 29.5 days, while the Moon changes sign roughly every 2.5 days. Together they give a fuller picture of lunar energy.
Lunar cycles have shaped your biggest chapters. Replay shows how.
The Moon's broader cycles have coincided with your life's turning points. Replay maps when lunar themes peaked, which chapters they shaped, and where similar patterns are building next.