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ScienceQuiet 3d · day 9

Moon's waxing crescent brightens from 18% to 26% illumination in two days

NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracks the Moon's illuminated surface growing nightly as it moves through its waxing crescent phase.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 8d ago18 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • The Moon is in a waxing crescent phase, moving toward a full Moon over its roughly 29.5-day cycle.
  • Visible illumination grew from 18% on September 15, 2026 to 26% on September 16, 2026, per NASA's Daily Moon Guide.
  • Naked-eye viewers can spot Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis; binoculars or a telescope reveal Endymion Crater.

NASA Data sourceLois Mackenzie Mashable freelance reporter

Moon's waxing crescent brightens from 18% to 26% illumination in two days
mashable.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Sep 15, 11 PM; 18 pieces over 9 days (12 articles · 6 posts) Sep 14, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 15, 2 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — quietSep 15, 8 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quiet 12
Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 5:47 AM ET
  1. 2

    NASA tracker shows Moon at 26% illumination

    By September 16, 2026, the Moon's illuminated surface had grown to 26%, still in the Waxing Crescent phase, with the same surface features remaining visible and slightly clearer.

  2. 1

    NASA tracker shows Moon at 18% illumination

    On September 15, 2026, the Moon was in the Waxing Crescent phase with 18% of its surface visible, allowing naked-eye views of Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis, and telescope views of Endymion Crater.

    1. 1 outlet Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on September 16, 2026

      first by Mashable, 8d ago

      5 more headlines
    2. 1 outlet Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on September 15, 2026

      first by Mashable, 9d ago

      1 more headline