Waning Crescent Moon
A thin sliver on the left side (Northern Hemisphere) before dawn, shrinking toward the new moon.
The Moon is in its waning crescent phase today, November 3, 2026, 32% lit. The old Moon: visible only in the east before dawn.
- 🌘 Waning crescent
- From 49% down to about 1% lit
What the waning crescent moon looks like
A slim curve of light on the left as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, on the right south of the equator, often with earthshine on the dark part of the disk. The last crescents, a day before the new moon, are hard to catch.
When and where to see it
The waning crescent rises before the Sun and shows low in the east before sunrise, then fades into the daylight. Astronomers call it the old Moon. It often stands near Venus or another bright planet in the dawn sky, a favorite pairing for photographers.
Illumination and timing
From 49% down to about 1% lit, days 23 to 29 of the lunar cycle, about six and a half days.
Next waning crescent moon dates
| From | To | Illumination | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 3, 2026 | Sun, Nov 8, 2026 | 32% to 1% | day |
| Wed, Dec 2, 2026 | Tue, Dec 8, 2026 | 37% to 0% | day |
| Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Wed, Jan 6, 2027 | 43% to 2% | day |
| Sat, Jan 30, 2027 | Fri, Feb 5, 2027 | 40% to 1% | day |
| Mon, Mar 1, 2027 | Sun, Mar 7, 2027 | 38% to 1% | day |
All dates are in UTC; each daily page shows the Moon’s exact illumination, sign, and the day’s traditions.
The waning crescent moon in lunar tradition
In gardening tradition these are days for weeding, soil preparation, and planting root crops, and in hair tradition the last days when a cut is said to hold. The new moon that follows is a rest day in both.
A phase of rest and closure in the tradition, the quiet before a new cycle begins.
- Planting by the moon
What to sow and plant in this phase
- Lunar hair calendar
Whether a cut in this phase grows fast or holds
- Moon sign today
The sign adds the day type to the phase
Frequently asked questions
What does a waning crescent moon mean?
A phase of rest and closure in the tradition, the quiet before a new cycle begins. In gardening tradition these are days for weeding, soil preparation, and planting root crops, and in hair tradition the last days when a cut is said to hold. The new moon that follows is a rest day in both.
When is the next waning crescent moon?
The Moon is in its waning crescent phase today, November 3, 2026, 32% lit.
How long does the waning crescent phase last?
From 49% down to about 1% lit, days 23 to 29 of the lunar cycle, about six and a half days.
When does the waning crescent moon rise and set?
The waning crescent rises before the Sun and shows low in the east before sunrise, then fades into the daylight. Astronomers call it the old Moon. It often stands near Venus or another bright planet in the dawn sky, a favorite pairing for photographers.