On Thursday, May 21, 2026 the Moon was in its waxing crescent phase, with 24% of its disk illuminated and an age of 4.8 days since the last new moon. A thin lit sliver appears low in the western sky just after sunset and sets shortly after the Sun.
Moon data for this date
| Phase | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
|---|---|
| Illumination | 24% |
| Moon age | 4.8 days |
| Day of the week | Thursday |
| Last new moon | May 16, 2026 at 17:02 |
| Next full moon | May 31, 2026 at 05:46 (in 9.7 days) |
| Next new moon | June 14, 2026 at 23:55 (in 24.5 days) |
The Moon on the surrounding days
Compare the phase and illumination over the three days before and after. Click a day to open its page.
About the waxing crescent
A thin lit sliver appears low in the western sky just after sunset and sets shortly after the Sun. The phase name comes from the Moon's position in its 29.53-day cycle: on May 21, 2026 it had completed 16% of the cycle that began with the new moon on May 16, 2026.
Looking for another date, such as a birthday? Use the Moon phase on the day I was born tool, see the Moon phase today page with the lunar calendar, or find the day of the week of May 21, 2026. For sun times, check sunrise and sunset.