Moon Phases — December 2026
Full Moon on December 24 at 01:16 UTC, New Moon on December 8 at 23:57 UTC. Each cell shows that day's phase and illumination.
December 2026 · phase for each day (UTC)
Best Nights in December
✦Darkest skies
Dec 6 – Dec 10
Around the New Moon (Dec 8), little moonlight — the best nights for the Milky Way, meteors and faint deep-sky objects.
◐Sharpest Moon detail
Dec 1 · Dec 17
At the quarter Moons the terminator throws long shadows across crater rims — the best nights to photograph lunar surface detail.
○Brightest nights
Dec 23 – Dec 25
Around the Cold Moon (Dec 24), strong natural moonlight for night walks — but it washes out fainter stars.
Moonrise & moonset where you are
See tonight's moonrise, moonset and best viewing time for your location — then plan the rest of the month from the grid above.