Moon phase today explained: What the Moon will look like on March 19, 2026

It’s a New Moon tonight, which means the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. The side facing Earth is not lit at all, so it is essentially invisible in the night sky.

What is the phase of the Moon today?

Since Thursday, March 19, the phase of the Moon is the New Moon. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 0% of the Moon will be illuminated tonight.

When will the next Full Moon take place?

In North America, the next Full Moon is expected to occur on April 1st.

What are the phases of the Moon?

NASA says the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit Earth, going through eight different phases. We always see the same side, but the Sun illuminates different parts as it moves, which is why it can appear full, half, or just a thin sliver. These changing shapes are called lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon – The Moon sits between the Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the naked eye).

Waxed Crescent – ​​A small burst 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, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon – The entire face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Gibbous Decline – The Moon begins to lose 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 turning dark again.