If you stepped outside in the pre-dawn chill today, January 15, 2026, you might have caught a glimpse of a razor-thin silver arc hanging low in the eastern sky. It’s a bit of a ghost right now. Honestly, if you weren't looking for it specifically, you’d probably miss it entirely.
The moon is currently in its Waning Crescent phase.
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Basically, we’re at the tail end of the lunar cycle. The moon is about 26 days old—measured from the last New Moon—and it’s rapidly losing its light as it swings back toward the sun. Right now, it’s only about 10% illuminated. That’s a tiny sliver. If the moon were a clock, we're at the final few minutes before the hour resets.
Why the Current Phase Feels So Quiet
There is a specific kind of energy that comes with a 10% moon. Scientists call this "low elongation," which is just a fancy way of saying the moon and the sun are getting very close to each other in our sky. Because of that proximity, the moon rises just a couple of hours before the sun does.
By the time most of us are eating breakfast, the sun’s glare has completely washed out that delicate crescent. You’ve really gotta be an early bird to see it.
The "Old Moon" in Sagittarius
Astrologically speaking—for those who track the stars—the moon is currently moving through Sagittarius. This is often called the "Old Moon." While Sagittarius usually brings a vibe of adventure and "let's go find something new," the waning crescent phase pulls us in the opposite direction. It’s more about internal exploration. Sorta like cleaning out your backpack before a big hike. You’re getting rid of the junk so you can start the next cycle fresh.
The Science of the "Ashen Glow"
One of the coolest things you can see right now, if the sky is clear enough, is something called Earthshine or "the Da Vinci glow."
Even though only 10% of the moon is directly lit by the sun, you might be able to see the faint, ghostly outline of the rest of the lunar disk. That isn't sunlight. It’s actually light from the Earth reflecting off our oceans and clouds, hitting the moon, and bouncing back to your eyes. It’s a double-bounce of light. Seeing that dim "full" circle tucked inside the bright crescent is, honestly, one of the most underrated sights in stargazing.
What’s Coming Up Next?
We are hurtling toward a New Moon on January 18, 2026. At that point, the illumination will hit 0%. The moon will be positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, making it invisible to us for a day or two.
Here is the quick breakdown of where we’ve been and where we’re going this month:
- January 10: Last Quarter (The moon looked like a perfect D-shape).
- January 15 (Today): Waning Crescent (The 10% "fingernail" moon).
- January 18: New Moon (Total darkness, perfect for seeing the Milky Way).
- January 25: First Quarter (The light begins to "wax" or grow again).
Seeing the Grimaldi Basin
If you have a pair of decent binoculars or a backyard telescope, tonight (well, technically tomorrow morning before dawn) is a great time to hunt for the Grimaldi Basin. It’s one of the darkest spots on the moon, a giant impact crater filled with ancient lava. Because the sunlight is hitting the moon at such a sharp angle right now, the shadows along the "terminator" line (the line between light and dark) are incredibly long. This makes the craters and mountains pop with way more detail than they do during a Full Moon.
Practical Tips for Tonight
Don't bother looking for the moon at 9:00 PM. It’s not there. It won’t rise until well after midnight—closer to 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM depending on where you live.
If you want to catch it:
- Check your local moonrise time. It’s usually about 2-3 hours before sunrise.
- Look East. It will be low on the horizon, following the path the sun is about to take.
- Bring binoculars. Even cheap ones will reveal the craters along the thin edge and that eerie Earthshine glow on the dark side.
This is a time for restoration. The moon is "dying" back into the sun’s light, preparing to be reborn in a few days. Use this dark period to finish up projects or just catch up on sleep. The sky is going to get a lot darker over the next 72 hours, which is actually a gift for anyone who likes looking at deep-space objects like the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades. Without the moon’s "light pollution," those stars will look twice as bright.
To make the most of this phase, set an alarm for 30 minutes before sunrise tomorrow. Find a window or a porch with a clear view toward the East. Watching that sliver of silver disappear into the orange glow of the coming sun is a pretty grounding way to start your day.