As of Friday, Sept. 11, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide tracker reports that Earth’s natural satellite is in the New Moon phase with 0% of its surface visible, a celestial alignment where the Moon sits directly between Earth and the Sun with its illuminated side facing away from us.
Understanding Today’s New Moon Phase
Tonight’s New Moon marks a complete darkness on the lunar side facing Earth. According to NASA, the Moon’s appearance changes gradually as it travels around our planet, completing a full lunar cycle in approximately 29.5 days. What observers see from Earth depends entirely on the Moon’s position relative to the Sun, which dictates how much of the sunlit hemisphere remains visible.
Pro Tip: Amateur astronomers looking ahead to the next illumination cycle can track the progression using NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
Upcoming Lunar Milestones and the Complete Cycle
Following the current New Moon phase, the next Full Moon will take place on September 26, according to NASA trackers. The lunar journey progresses through eight distinct phases. It starts with the invisible New Moon, transitions into a Waxing Crescent where a small sliver of light appears on the right side in the Northern Hemisphere, and reaches a First Quarter half-Moon where the right half is lit.
From there, the cycle moves to a Waxing Gibbous before culminating in the Full Moon, where the entire face is illuminated. The waning half of the cycle brings the Waning Gibbous, the Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) showing the left side lit, and finally a Waning Crescent before the cycle resets to darkness.
Did You Know? The lunar cycle takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, meaning observers experience these eight distinct shapes on a predictable, monthly rhythm governed by orbital mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Moon phase today?
According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, today’s phase is the New Moon, with 0% of the surface visible from Earth.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon is scheduled for September 26, following the completion of the current lunar cycle’s waxing phases.
How many phases does the Moon have?
NASA outlines eight recognizable phases in the lunar cycle: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
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