As the lunar cycle progresses on Sunday, September 13, 2026, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker reports the Moon is in a Waxing Crescent phase with 5% of its visible surface illuminated. Following the recent New Moon, nighttime visibility will gradually increase toward the next Full Moon on September 26.
Tracking the Lunar Phases
The Moon’s appearance is shifting as it continues its roughly 29.5-day orbit around Earth, completing a full lunar cycle as NASA tells us. On Sunday, September 13, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker indicates the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, showcasing about 5% of its surface. This phase marks the beginning of a gradual illumination that will culminate with the next Full Moon on September 26. Over the coming days, as the new lunar cycle gets underway, a little more of it will become visible each night. Understanding Moon phases involves recognizing the cyclic nature of the Moon’s orbit around Earth. As the Moon moves in relation to both Earth and the Sun, its appearance alters, and the varying positions dictate how much of the Moon’s sunlit side is visible from our perspective.
The Recent New Moon and Stargazing Conditions
The New Moon occurred at 3:27 a.m. UTC on September 11, 2026, which is equivalent to 11:27 p.m. EDT on September 10, meaning U.S. viewers experienced the phenomenon on Thursday night. During this time, the Moon was positioned between Earth and the sun, with the sunlit side facing away from us, so the side we see is completely dark and invisible to the eye. September is an exciting month for stargazing, with several stunning celestial events lined up in the coming weeks. The lack of moonlight will create great conditions for viewing and photographing deep-sky objects.
Understanding the Eight Stages of the Lunar Cycle
The Moon passes through eight distinct phases while orbiting the Earth during a 29.5-day lunar cycle, moving from a slender crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again. These eight phases, in order, are:
- New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
- Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
- First Quarter: Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
- Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
- Full Moon: The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible, with the next Full Moon taking place on September 26.
- Waning Gibbous: The Moon starts losing light on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
- Third Quarter (or Last Quarter): Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
- Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
