Moon phase calendar 2026-2027: every new moon, quarter moon and full moon date

The short answer: this moon phase calendar lists every new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter for 2026 and 2027, with exact Eastern times from the U.S. Naval Observatory. The next new moon is November 9, 2026, and the next full moon is the Beaver Moon on November 24, 2026.

• Coming up: first quarter Nov 17 · full moon Nov 24 · last quarter Dec 1 · new moon Dec 8 · full Cold Moon Dec 23
• 2027 at a glance: 13 new moons, 12 full moons (no blue moon), two new moons in August, two solar and three penumbral lunar eclipses
• Free printable: get the free 2027 calendar printable (we email it to you) and copy the moon dates onto it. For family moon nights, the Family Life Admin Bundle is $15.99 ($23.95 when bought separately).

Dates and times checked November 4, 2026, against the U.S. Naval Observatory and NASA. Below: the next phases, full 2026 and 2027 tables, eclipses, the eight phases explained, how to read the times, and how to make your own printable moon calendar.

Next moon phases: November and December 2026

These are the next eight main phases, with the time in all four U.S. mainland zones. Each main phase is a single moment, so the moon looks almost the same for a day or so on either side.

Planning tip: the Beaver Moon lands two days before Thanksgiving, so the evenings of November 23 and 24 are the best for a moon walk. Our Thanksgiving activities list has more ideas for that week. The Cold Moon on December 23 keeps the sky bright for Christmas Eve traditions the next night.

2026 and 2027 moon phase calendar

Each row is one lunar cycle, starting at the new moon. All times are Eastern, from the U.S. Naval Observatory's moon phase data, converted from Universal Time with daylight saving time applied when it was in effect.

Time zone tip: for Central time subtract 1 hour, for Mountain subtract 2, and for Pacific subtract 3. If that pushes the time before midnight, the phase falls on the day before in your zone.

2026 moon phases (Eastern time)

2027 moon phases (Eastern time)

What stands out in 2027:

• No blue moon. Each month has exactly one full moon. The last calendar blue moon was May 31, 2026.
• Two new moons in August. August 2 and August 31 are both new moons, so August 2027 has two extra-dark stretches for stargazing.
• Harvest Moon on September 15. The fall equinox is September 23, 2027, and the September 15 full moon is the closest one to it, so it takes the Harvest Moon name.
• A 13th new moon. The year ends with a new moon on December 27, which starts the first lunar cycle of 2028.

For a full-moon-only list with names and times, see our full moon 2026 calendar.

2027 full moon names and dates

Full moon names are traditional nicknames, not official astronomy terms. They come from a blend of Native American, Colonial American and European traditions, so other calendars sometimes use different names.

How we picked the best evening: when the exact full moon happens in the morning, the night before is just as full to the eye. When it happens in the evening, look that same night.

Eclipses in 2026 and 2027

Eclipses only happen at a new moon (solar) or a full moon (lunar), which is why they line up with the tables above. Dates and visibility come from NASA's lunar eclipse and solar eclipse catalogs.

Good to know: a penumbral lunar eclipse only dims the moon slightly, so most people won't notice it without a camera. Never look at a solar eclipse without certified eclipse glasses.

The 8 moon phases explained

NASA explains that the Moon makes no light of its own. We see the half lit by the Sun, and as the Moon orbits Earth we see more or less of that lit half. It takes about 27.3 days to orbit Earth but about 29.5 days to go from new moon to new moon.

Easy memory trick: "waxing" means growing and "waning" means shrinking. In the U.S., if the right side is lit the moon is growing toward full; if the left side is lit it is shrinking toward new.

How long each cycle really lasts

The 29.5-day figure is an average. Using the Naval Observatory times for 2026 and 2027, the gap between new moons runs from about 29 days 7 hours to about 29 days 20 hours. That is why the dates drift a little earlier each month and why a full moon can sometimes land twice in one month.

How to read moon phase times without getting the date wrong

Every phase happens at one instant for the whole planet. Calendars differ only in which clock they use. Three rules keep you from mixing up dates:

1. Check the time zone. This calendar uses Eastern time. Many astronomy sources use Universal Time (UT), which is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 4 hours ahead during daylight saving time.
2. Watch for midnight crossings. The August 28, 2026, full moon was at 12:18 a.m. Eastern, which was still August 27 in Central, Mountain and Pacific time.
3. Mind the clock change. Times after daylight saving time ended on November 1, 2026, are standard time. In 2027, daylight saving time runs from March 14 to November 7.

Southern Hemisphere note: the dates are the same everywhere, but the lit side looks flipped. A waxing crescent lit on the right in the U.S. is lit on the left in Australia.

How to make a printable moon phase calendar

A paper moon calendar on the fridge is easier for the whole family to check than an app. Here's a simple way to set one up for 2027:

1. Get a blank calendar. Grab the free 2027 calendar printable (we email it to you), or use a monthly calendar page for one month at a time.
2. Pick four symbols. A filled circle for new moon, an open circle for full moon, and a half circle for each quarter. Keep them small so you can still write plans in the box.
3. Copy the dates from the 2027 table. Write the time under the symbol if you plan to watch the exact moment, or skip it for a cleaner look.
4. Highlight the nights that matter. Circle full moon evenings for walks and new moon weekends for stargazing.
5. Add eclipses and seasons. Mark the February 20 and August 17 penumbral lunar eclipses, the March 20 spring equinox and the June 21 summer solstice.

Printing tip: print on heavier paper or light cardstock so markers and highlighters don't bleed through. Hang it near your family calendar so moon nights end up in the same place as practices and appointments.

Make moon nights part of the routine: the Family Life Admin Bundle ($15.99, $23.95 when bought separately) puts a chore chart, a meal planner and grocery list, and three more family printables in one download. Put a full moon walk on the Kids Chore Chart ($3.49) as the reward for a good week. Browse every planner in our Printables line, or save with Bundles.

Simple ways families use a moon calendar

A moon calendar is a free, low-key reason to get outside after dinner. A few ideas that cost nothing:

• Full moon walk. Pick the evening from the 2027 full moon table and walk the block right after sunset, when the moon is rising.
• New moon stargazing. The darkest nights are within a couple of days of each new moon. Bring a blanket, give your eyes time to adjust to the dark and look for constellations.
• Moon journal. Kids sketch the moon every clear night for one cycle and label each phase. It's a classic science activity that needs only paper and a pencil.
• Photo challenge. Photograph the same view at first quarter, full and last quarter to see how the lit side moves.
• Seasonal tie-ins. December's Cold Moon pairs well with winter solstice traditions, and Lunar New Year 2027 starts with the new moon on February 6.

Moon terms you'll see on other calendars

• Blue moon: the second full moon in one calendar month. 2026 had one on May 31; 2027 has none.
• Supermoon: a popular name for a full moon near the Moon's closest point to Earth. It looks only slightly bigger and brighter, and definitions vary, so dates differ between sources.
• Black moon: an informal name for the second new moon in a calendar month, such as August 31, 2027.
• Lunation: one full cycle from new moon to new moon.
• Third quarter: another name for last quarter.

The bottom line

Save this moon phase calendar, copy the 2027 dates onto a printable, and mark the nights you want to use: full moons for walks, new moons for stars and eclipses for something special. For more ways to plan the year, see our 2027 calendar, 2027 planner and planner ideas.