Moon Phases 2026

Q: When is the best time to watch shooting stars – at new moon or full moon?

For meteors the best time is around new moon , because the sky is darkest then. Full moon usually makes faint meteors much harder to see.

Moon Phases help you plan night-sky observations: meteors and “shooting stars”, the Milky Way, noctilucent clouds (NLC) and the aurora. Below you will find the 2026 lunar calendar (local time: Warsaw / Poland) together with a LIVE countdown to the next phase.

To connect night-sky observations with a wider northern travel plan, see the North section.

NORTH

North: Iceland, Norway, northern lights and Lofoten

A dedicated OndaTravel section for northern trips: Iceland, Norway, fjords, Lofoten, northern lights, ready-made routes and planning tools.

Go to the North section

Sky Phenomena (section)

Noctilucent Clouds (NLC)

Aurora Radar

Live Aurora

Moon phases in July and August 2026

In July 2026, the New Moon falls on 14 July at 11:43, First Quarter on 21 July at 13:05, and Full Moon on 29 July at 16:35. The darkest nights therefore fall around the middle of the month, while toward the end of July the bright Moon will reduce the visibility of fainter meteors.

Month	New Moon	First Quarter	Full Moon	Last Quarter
July 2026	14.07, 11:43	21.07, 13:05	29.07, 16:35	7.07, 21:29
August 2026	12.08, 19:36	20.08, 04:46	28.08, 06:18	6.08, 04:21

The August New Moon falls on the day of the Perseids peak. This makes the night of 12–13 August look excellent: moonlight should practically not interfere with observing shooting stars.

Moon phase is most useful when you combine it with the specific phenomena of a given month. The September and October calendars show which nights are best for meteors, the Milky Way, planets and aurora, and when moonlight may help or get in the way.

SEPTEMBER 2026

Monthly guide

Sky events in September 2026: meteors, equinox and the Moon

Sky events in September 2026: ε-Perseids, New Moon, equinox, Neptune, Full Moon, aurora, space missions and the best observing nights in Poland.

Open guide

OCTOBER 2026

Monthly guide

Sky events in October 2026: Draconids, Orionids and Saturn

Sky events in October 2026: Saturn, Draconids, New Moon, Orionids, Taurids, Full Moon, space missions and the best observing nights.

Open guide

Night-sky observation calendars and tools

Sky Phenomena

Meteor calendar

Astronomical calendar

Eclipses

Supermoon

How to photograph the night sky

Weather and cloud cover (Windy)

Before observing, compare cloud cover and wind, especially if you are heading into the field. If you are watching for aurora, also check the aurora radar and the live forecast.

LIVE: next Moon phase and countdown

Moon phase calendar 2026 – dates and times (local PL time)

The table contains the four main phases: new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter. In practice this is enough to plan dark-sky nights around new moon or Moon photography around the quarters. If you are chasing meteors or the Milky Way, compare the dates with moonless windows.

Month 2026	Full Moon	Third quarter	New Moon	First quarter
January	3.01, 11:02 (Wolf Moon)	10.01, 16:48	18.01, 20:52	26.01, 05:47
February	1.02, 23:09 (Snow Moon)	9.02, 13:43	17.02, 13:01	24.02, 13:27
March	3.03, 12:37 (Worm Moon)	11.03, 10:38	19.03, 02:23	25.03, 20:17
April	2.04, 04:11 (Pink Moon)	10.04, 06:51	17.04, 13:51	24.04, 04:31
May	1.05, 19:23 (Flower Moon) · 31.05, 10:45 (Blue Moon – second full Moon in the month)	9.05, 23:10	16.05, 22:01 (Super New Moon)	23.05, 13:10
June	30.06, 01:56 (Strawberry Moon)	8.06, 12:00	15.06, 04:54 (Super New Moon)	21.06, 23:55
July	29.07, 16:35 (Buck Moon)	7.07, 21:29	14.07, 11:43	21.07, 13:05
August	28.08, 06:18 (Sturgeon Moon)	6.08, 04:21	12.08, 19:36	20.08, 04:46
September	26.09, 18:49 (Corn Moon)	4.09, 09:51	11.09, 05:27	18.09, 22:43
October	26.10, 05:11 (Hunter’s Moon)	3.10, 15:25	10.10, 17:50	18.10, 18:12
November	24.11, 15:53 (Beaver Moon)	1.11, 21:28	9.11, 08:02	17.11, 12:47
December	24.12, 02:28 (Cold Moon)	1.12, 07:08 · 30.12, 19:59	9.12, 01:51	17.12, 06:42

How to use Moon phases when planning observations

Darkest nights: around new moon

If you are planning meteors or subtle phenomena such as NLC, aim for the nights around new moon (about ±2–4 nights). That is when the sky is darkest and the background is least affected by moonlight.

Best Moon photos: the quarters

Around first and third quarter, the terminator – the boundary between light and shadow – emphasizes craters and mountains. These are the best conditions for telescope or telephoto images.

Full Moon: when it makes sense

A full Moon makes meteor observing harder, but it works very well for bright night landscapes with snow, clouds or mountains – especially when you want more natural light and shorter exposures.

Eclipses in 2026 – what is worth knowing from a Polish perspective

In 2026 there are two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses, but visibility from Poland is limited. For planning purposes, treat this as a short summary and keep the full details on the dedicated eclipses page.

2–3 March 2026 – total lunar eclipse: not visible from Poland.
27–28 August 2026 – partial lunar eclipse: in Warsaw the maximum is below the horizon.
12 August 2026 – total solar eclipse: only partial from Poland (totality over Iceland and beyond).

Eclipses 2026 – full guide

FAQ: Moon phases

When is the best time to watch shooting stars – at new moon or full moon?

For meteors the best time is around new moon, because the sky is darkest then. Full moon usually makes faint meteors much harder to see.

Do Moon phases affect the visibility of noctilucent clouds (NLC)?

Yes. NLC can still be visible under a bright Moon, but their finest structures are easier to see against a darker sky. If the display is weak, moonlight can reduce contrast.

Why does the table show only 4 phases and not 8?

For practical observation planning the four main phases – new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter – are the most useful reference points. The intermediate crescents and gibbous phases can be estimated between them.

Are the listed times for Poland?

Yes. The table uses local time for Warsaw / Poland, including daylight saving time where applicable.

Will a total lunar eclipse be visible from Poland in 2026?

No. The total lunar eclipse of 2–3 March 2026 is not visible from Poland. At the end of August 2026 there is a partial lunar eclipse, but in Warsaw the maximum is below the horizon, so observation is very difficult.