Waning Crescent
Also called: old Moon
A thin sliver lit on the left that shrinks each night, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise just before the next new Moon.
- Type
- Moon Phases
- Best season
- Any time of year
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- The days before new Moon, in the pre-dawn sky
- Lit part
- A thin crescent on the left, shrinking
- Visible
- Low in the east before sunrise
- Best for
- Dark evening skies and early-morning earthshine
- Age
- About 23 to 29 days after new Moon
What you will see
- A thin crescent in the east before dawn.
- Earthshine on the dark part of the Moon.
- Dark evening skies for stargazing.
How to watch
- Look east before sunrise.
- Enjoy dark evening skies, which are great for deep-sky objects.
Field notes
The waning crescent is the last chance to see the Moon before it disappears into the Sun's glare for a day or two.
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.