Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on September 18, 2026
See the Moon phase expected for September 18, 2026 as well as when the next Full Moon is expected.
As of September 18, 2026, the Moon is currently in the First Quarter phase, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker. This means roughly 45% of the lunar surface is illuminated and visible from Earth. Key features such as Mare Crisium, Mare Serenitatis, and Mare Fecunditatis are easily observable with the naked eye. Binoculars can reveal additional details like Endymion Crater and Posidonius Crater, while a telescope allows observers to spot the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots, as well as the Rupes Altai.
Moon phases result from the Moon's orbit around Earth, which takes approximately 29.5 days. This orbit causes varying portions of the Moon's illuminated side to be visible from our perspective. The eight distinct phases are: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter (also known as Last Quarter), and Waning Crescent. Each phase represents a different perspective of the Moon's illuminated half as it moves around Earth relative to the Sun.
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