Moon Phase Today: What the Moon Looks Like on September 16, 2026

If you’re stepping outside tonight, look up – the Moon is busy gaining a little extra light. As of Wednesday, September 16, 2026, NASA’s Daily Moon Guide lists the Moon in a waxing‑crescent phase, with roughly 26 % of its disc illuminated.

That may sound modest, but it’s enough to make a couple of the lunar “seas” pop out for the naked eye. Point your gaze toward the right‑hand side (for observers in the Northern Hemisphere) and you should be able to spot Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis – those dark, basalt‑filled basins that look like gentle bruises on the Moon’s face.

Got a pair of binoculars or a modest telescope handy? You’ll be rewarded with a clearer look at Endymion Crater, a bright‑rimmed impact feature sitting just to the north of Mare Crisium. It’s a nice little target for beginners who want to practice spotting craters without getting lost in a sea of shadows.

And, if you’re already marking your calendar, note that the next full Moon is slated for September 26. That will be a good ten days from now, giving the Moon plenty of time to swell from its current slim crescent to a round, glowing disk.

So why does the Moon change shape at all? It’s all about geometry. As the Moon orbits Earth – a trip that takes about 29.5 days – we see different slices of its sun‑lit side. When the Sun‑Moon‑Earth angle lines up just right, the entire near side lights up (that’s the Full Moon). When the Moon is tucked between Earth and the Sun, we see none of the illuminated side (the New Moon). In between, the visible portion waxes and wanes, giving us the classic eight phases:

• New Moon – the Moon hides in the Sun’s glare.
• Waxing Crescent – a thin sliver appears on the right.
• First Quarter – half the Moon is bright, right side illuminated.
• Waxing Gibbous – more than half is lit, but not quite full.
• Full Moon – the whole face shines.
• Waning Gibbous – the light starts receding on the right.
• Third (Last) Quarter – left half illuminated.
• Waning Crescent – a thin sliver remains on the left before darkness returns.

All of this is dictated by the Moon’s position relative to Earth and the Sun, a dance that’s been happening for billions of years. So tonight, whether you’re a casual stargazer or an aspiring lunar photographer, enjoy that growing crescent and the familiar landmarks it reveals. The sky’s waiting.