Moon Calendar 2026

A moon phase calendar shows the exact phase of the Moon for every day of the year - from New Moon through Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and back to Waning Crescent. This calendar also shows the Vedic tithi (lunar day) and nakshatra (lunar mansion) for each date, making it the most comprehensive lunar reference for 2026.

There are 12 full moons in 2026, occurring approximately every 29.5 days. They fall on January 3, February 1, March 3, April 2, May 1 and 31 (two in May), June 29, July 29, August 28, September 26, October 26, and November 24. Each full moon aligns with a different zodiac sign and carries distinct Vedic significance.

A tithi is a lunar day in the Vedic (Hindu) calendar system. Unlike solar days (24 hours), a tithi is defined by a 12° angular separation between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithis in a complete lunar cycle: 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) ending at Purnima (Full Moon), and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha) ending at Amavasya (New Moon). Tithis are central to muhurta (auspicious timing) calculations.

A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions in Vedic astrology, each spanning 13°20' of the sidereal zodiac. The Moon moves through approximately one nakshatra per day, completing the full cycle of 27 in about 27.3 days (a sidereal month). Each nakshatra has a ruling planet (lord), a presiding deity, a symbolic image, and specific qualities that influence the day's energy. The Moon's nakshatra on your birth date is your janma nakshatra (birth star).

Paksha means "fortnight" in Sanskrit. Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) runs from New Moon to Full Moon - the 15 waxing tithis when lunar light increases. Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) runs from Full Moon back to New Moon - the 15 waning tithis when light diminishes. Vedic tradition considers Shukla Paksha generally more auspicious for new ventures, while Krishna Paksha supports completion, release, and ancestral rites.

Vedic tradition and modern lunar practice both point to the same window: Shukla Pratipada - the first tithi after the New Moon (Amavasya). This combines the energy of a fresh lunar cycle with growing Moon light. Avoid starting new ventures on Amavasya (New Moon day itself), Ashtami, Chaturdashi, and full-Moon days when emotions are highly charged.

This calendar uses NASA JPL DE431 ephemeris data via the astronomy-engine library, which is the same planetary data set used by professional astronomers and space agencies. Phase calculations are accurate to within seconds. Tithi and nakshatra positions use the Lahiri ayanamsha (the standard for Vedic astrology in India) for sidereal calculations.

Illumination percentage is the fraction of the Moon's visible disc that is lit by sunlight as seen from Earth. At New Moon illumination is 0%. At First and Last Quarter it is approximately 50%. At Full Moon it reaches 100%. The exact percentage changes every hour as the Moon moves in its orbit. This calendar shows the illumination at solar noon UTC for each date.

Scientific evidence for direct physiological effects of moon phases is limited. However, the Moon's gravitational influence on ocean tides is well established, and ancient civilizations worldwide - from Babylon to India - structured agriculture, medicine, and ritual around lunar cycles. Vedic astrology treats the Moon as the most important personal planet, governing mind (manas), emotions, and biological rhythms. Whether you follow the scientific or Vedic framework, tracking lunar cycles provides a rich temporal structure for self-reflection.

The Western Gregorian calendar is purely solar - months are fixed divisions of the solar year. The Vedic (Hindu) calendar is luni-solar: months are defined by the Moon's cycle, but the calendar is periodically adjusted (with an extra month called Adhika Masa) to stay aligned with the solar year. This is why Hindu festivals like Diwali and Holi fall on different Gregorian dates each year but always on the same tithi.