# Moon phase today explained: September 17, 2026

> The Moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase with 35% visible, offering a chance to spot lunar features with the naked eye or binoculars.
- Title: Moon phase today explained: September 17, 2026 · Mashable
- Summary: The Moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase with 35% visible, offering a chance to spot lunar features with the naked eye or binoculars. On September 17, 2026…
- Keywords: moon phases, waxing crescent, lunar cycle, september 17 2026, moon observation, nasa, lunar features, technology, culture, Moon, phase, today
- Source: Mashable — https://mashable.com/science/moon-phase-today-sept-17-2026
- Author: Lois Mackenzie
- Published: 2026-09-17T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: moon phases, waxing crescent, lunar cycle, september 17 2026, moon observation, nasa, lunar features, technology, culture
## Tonight's Moon phase explained
On September 17, 2026, the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase with 35% of its surface visible. It's day six of the lunar cycle, giving you a good chance to spot lunar features.
## What you can see tonight
With the naked eye, you should spot Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis. Binoculars reveal Endymion Crater, while a telescope shows these features plus the Apollo 11 and 17 landing sites.
## The next Full Moon arrives
The next Full Moon will occur on September 26, 2026, just nine days after tonight's Waxing Crescent phase.
## How Moon phases work
The Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days, and we see different portions of its illuminated side as it moves. The phase depends on the Moon's position relative to Earth and the Sun.
## The eight lunar phases
The Moon cycles through New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent before repeating.
## Waxing Crescent explained
In the Waxing Crescent phase, a small sliver of light appears on the right side of the Moon in the Northern Hemisphere as it gradually brightens toward the Full Moon.
## Key takeaway

On September 17, 2026, the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase at day six of its cycle, making it a good time to observe lunar landmarks like Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis.