If you stepped outside tonight and looked up, you might find yourself squinting. It's not because your eyes are failing you. It’s because the moon is currently playing a bit of a vanishing act. Honestly, most people just assume the moon is "there" or "not there," but the specifics of what's happening right now in the sky are actually kinda cool if you’re into the rhythm of the planet.
As of Thursday, January 15, 2026, we are officially in the Waning Crescent phase.
Basically, the moon is about 26 days old—which sounds like a toddler in human years, but in lunar terms, it means it’s an old soul nearing the end of its 29.5-day cycle. It’s currently about 10% illuminated. That’s just a tiny sliver of light on the left side (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere). It's that delicate "fingernail" moon that looks like it belongs on a DreamWorks logo or a vintage Halloween card.
What "Waning Crescent" Actually Means for Your Night Sky
When we talk about what phase is the moon in today, we’re really talking about a game of celestial tag between the Earth, Sun, and Moon. "Waning" is just a fancy way of saying it’s shrinking or losing light. "Crescent" means it’s less than half full.
So, why is it so dim?
The moon is currently moving toward that point in its orbit where it sits right between us and the sun. This is the lead-up to the New Moon, which hits on January 18. Right now, the sun is mostly hitting the "far side" of the moon—the part we never see. We’re just catching the very edge of that sunlight.
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Why you might have missed it this morning
Crescent moons are notorious for being early birds. Because of where it sits in relation to the sun, a waning crescent usually rises in the small hours of the morning—think 3:00 AM or 4:00 AM—and stays up through the early daylight. If you’re a night owl or a very early commuter, you’ve probably seen it hanging low in the east just before sunrise. By midday? It’s still there, but the sun’s glare usually washes it out completely.
The Sagittarius Connection: Why Astrologers are Buzzing
Even if you don't buy into the "stars dictate my mood" thing, it’s interesting to see how people interpret this specific sky. Today’s moon is sitting in the sign of Sagittarius.
In the world of astrology, a Waning Crescent in Sagittarius is basically the universe telling you to "clean your room," but for your brain. Sagittarius is all about big ideas and adventure, while the waning moon is about letting go. Experts like those at VICE or Astroseek often point out that this is a time for "spiritual housecleaning."
Sorta makes sense, right? It’s mid-January. The New Year’s hype has faded. You’re looking at your goals and realizing some of them were... well, maybe too ambitious. This phase encourages you to ditch the stuff that isn't working before the New Moon reset on the 18th.
Science vs. Superstition: Does the Moon Phase Actually Affect Us?
You’ve probably heard people say that things get "crazy" during certain moon phases. Usually, they blame the Full Moon. But does the Waning Crescent—the phase we’re in today—do anything to us physically?
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The short answer: Not really, but also maybe a little.
The "Biological Tide" Myth
Some folks argue that because the human body is mostly water, the moon’s gravity must pull on us like it pulls on the oceans. Sounds logical, right? Except the math doesn't hold up. Astronomers often point out that a mother holding her baby exerts significantly more gravitational pull on that child than the moon does.
The Sleep Factor
Interestingly, some studies (like a famous one from Switzerland) suggest people actually sleep worse around the Full Moon. During the Waning Crescent phase—where we are now—the nights are much darker. For our ancestors, this was the time to hunker down. Less light meant less visibility for predators, but also less ability to hunt. Today, that darkness is a gift for amateur astronomers because it makes deep-space objects like nebulae and distant stars much easier to see.
Wildlife and the Waning Moon: Who’s Busy Tonight?
While we might just be sitting on our couches, the animal kingdom is definitely reacting to what phase is the moon in today.
- Marine Life: Lions and other land predators actually find hunting harder during bright Full Moons because their prey can see them coming. During this Waning Crescent, the darkness provides excellent cover.
- Sea Turtles: Hatchlings often use the light of the moon to find the ocean. On a dark night like tonight, they can sometimes get confused by artificial city lights, which are now much brighter than the 10% sliver of moon in the sky.
- Oysters: Weirdly enough, oysters have been shown to open and close their shells in sync with the lunar cycle, even in lab settings without visible moonlight. They "know" the phase even if they can't see it.
Quick Cheat Sheet: The Rest of January 2026
If you want to keep track of the sky for the rest of the month, here is the roadmap:
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- January 15 (Today): Waning Crescent (10% lit). Great for seeing the "Earthshine"—that's when the dark part of the moon is dimly lit by light reflecting off Earth.
- January 18: New Moon. The moon is totally dark from our perspective. This is the absolute best night for stargazing or trying to see the Milky Way.
- January 25: First Quarter. The moon will look like a perfect "D" shape, half-lit on the right side.
- February 1: The next Full Moon (the "Snow Moon").
How to See the Moon Today
If you want to catch a glimpse of the moon in its current state, don't wait until 9:00 PM. You won't see it. It will have already set.
Your best bet is to look toward the East/South-East just before the sun comes up. If you have a pair of basic binoculars, look at the "terminator" line—that’s the line between the light and dark parts of the moon. Because the sunlight is hitting the moon at a sharp angle right now, the shadows in the craters are incredibly long and dramatic.
You might even see the Grimaldi Basin, a huge dark patch near the edge of the moon that looks like a giant thumbprint.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Weather: Use an app like Clear Outside to see if the clouds are going to ruin the view.
- Look for Earthshine: Tonight is one of the best times to see "the old moon in the new moon’s arms." Look at the dark portion of the lunar disk; it should have a faint, ghostly glow.
- Plan for the 18th: If you have a telescope, clear your schedule for the New Moon. The lack of moonlight makes it the premier time for seeing deep-sky objects.
- Reflect and Reset: Take a page out of the astrological book—use these last three days of the cycle to finish up old projects so you can start something fresh on Monday.
The moon isn't just a rock in the sky; it’s a clock that’s been running for four billion years. Even at just 10% brightness, it’s worth a look.