Phase 7 of 8 🌗
Last Quarter Moon
Half lit again — the opposite half from first quarter — rising near midnight and ruling the morning sky.
The next Last Quarter is on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Tonight the Moon is a First Quarter, 31% lit.
What a last quarter is
The last quarter (or third quarter) Moon is the waning twin of first quarter: exactly half the disk is lit, but now it is the other half — the left side from the northern hemisphere — and the Moon is three quarters of the way through its orbit, about day 22 of the cycle. From here the lit fraction shrinks through crescent back to new.
Like first quarter, the terminator crosses the centre of the disk and shadows along it are long and dramatic — superb in binoculars. The difference is simply the hour: everything about the last quarter Moon happens half a day out of phase with most people’s waking lives.
When & where to see it
A last quarter Moon rises around local midnight and sets around noon. It climbs through the early morning hours, stands highest around sunrise, and lingers in the morning daytime sky — you will often see the half disk hanging in the west mid-morning.
For evening skywatchers this is effectively a moonless phase: the sky stays dark from sunset until the midnight moonrise, which makes the last-quarter week a good compromise window for stargazing.
Exact rise and set times depend on where you stand — check moonrise & moonset for your location.
Upcoming last quarter dates
| Date (UTC) | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|
| Wed, August 5, 2026 | 23:50 |
| Fri, September 4, 2026 | 06:54 |
| Sat, October 3, 2026 | 14:12 |
| Sun, November 1, 2026 | 22:35 |
| Tue, December 1, 2026 | 08:45 |
| Wed, December 30, 2026 | 21:15 |
Computed from lunar geometry (UTC). For any specific date, try the moon phase calculator.
Last Quarter meaning
Symbolically the last quarter is the phase of release and review — letting go of what the cycle brought, clearing space before the next new moon. It is the traditional moment for finishing, forgiving and closing accounts. More on moon phase meanings →
Frequently Asked
What time does the last quarter moon rise?
Around midnight local time, give or take an hour or two. It is highest around sunrise and sets near midday.
What is the difference between first and last quarter?
Both are half lit, but on opposite sides — and at opposite ends of the schedule. First quarter is an evening Moon (rises noon, sets midnight); last quarter is a morning Moon (rises midnight, sets noon).
Why is it also called the third quarter moon?
Because the Moon has completed three quarters of its orbit since new moon. “Last quarter” and “third quarter” name the same phase.
How long after the full moon is last quarter?
About 7.4 days — one quarter of the cycle. From last quarter it is another week or so back to new moon.