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Lunar phase
Last Quarter Moon
The pre-dawn Moon is half illuminated, leaving the evening darker and showing strong relief along the lunar terminator.
DateThursday, August 6, 2026
Local time05:21
VisibilityGood
LocationWorldwide event
What to know
Best before sunriseHalf illuminatedDarker evening hoursNaked eye or telescope
How this was calculated
Astronomical calculation
- Source
- Astronomy Engine
- Method
- Apparent positions calculated from VSOP87 and NOVAS-based models.
- Accuracy and limits
- Times are suitable for observing plans; local horizons, terrain, and atmospheric refraction can shift first or last visibility.
What you will actually see
A quarter Moon is half illuminated. Low-angle sunlight creates strong shadows that make craters, mountains, and valleys especially easy to see.
Where to lookLook after midnight or before sunrise; the evening remains comparatively dark.
What to bringNaked eye or binoculars; even a small telescope reveals rich detail along the terminator.
Prepare for the event
- Observe when the Moon is comfortably above nearby roofs or trees.
- Let a telescope cool outdoors before using higher magnification.
- Start at low power so the whole lunar disc fits in view.
How to observe it
- Find the terminator, the boundary between lunar day and night.
- Follow its long shadows from north to south.
- Increase magnification gradually when the air appears steady.