Moon Phases in December 2026
The dates of the four major moon phases in December 2026:
- Last Quarter on December 1 and December 30
- New Moon on December 8
- First Quarter on December 17
- Full Moon on December 23
The four phases of the moon
The four major phases of the moon are the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter.
A new moon is the first lunar phase that happens about once a month or 29.53 days on average. The moon itself is not visible, though you may be able to “see” it because it blocks the visibility of the stars behind it.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon, so that the moon appears completely illuminated. It happens about once a month, or 29.53 days on average.
The first quarter moon occurs between the new moon and full moon, and the last quarter moon occurs after the full moon and before the next new moon.
Moon Phases Calendar for December 2026
All phase dates and times are in the USA Eastern Time adjusted for Daylight Savings Time for part of the year.
December 1
December 8
December 17
December 23
December 30
| Moon Phase | Date | Time | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Quarter December 2026 | December 1 (Tuesday) | 1:09 a.m. EST | Autumn |
| New Moon December 2026 | December 8 (Tuesday) | 7:52 p.m. EST | Autumn |
| First Quarter December 2026 | December 17 (Thursday) | 12:43 a.m. EST | Autumn |
| Full Moon December 2026 | December 23 (Wednesday) | 8:28 p.m. EST | Winter |
| Last Quarter December 2026 | December 30 (Wednesday) | 1:59 p.m. EST | Winter |