Last Quarter
Also called: third quarter, half Moon (waning)
Half the Moon is lit, the left half, about three weeks into the cycle. It rises around midnight and is high in the south at dawn.
- Type
- Moon Phases
- Best season
- Any time of year
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- About three weeks after new Moon, in the late night and morning
- Lit part
- The left half
- Rises and sets
- Rises around midnight and sets around noon
- Best for
- Early evening stargazing before moonrise, and crater shadows at dawn
- Age
- About 22 days after new Moon
What you will see
- A half-lit Moon in the late-night and morning sky.
- A dark evening sky before the Moon rises.
- Shadows on the craters along the terminator.
How to watch
- Look for it in the morning sky.
- Do your stargazing in the first part of the night, before moonrise.
Field notes
The last quarter Moon is an early riser. It is a good time for evening stargazing, since the sky is dark until the Moon rises around midnight.
Related guides
Dates and times repeat from year to year but shift slightly, and the Moon's phase and the planets' positions are different every year. Check a current source such as NASA, the American Meteor Society, or a stargazing app before you plan a night out, and check the weather forecast for clear skies.