Waxing Crescent
Also called: young Moon
A thin sliver lit on the right side that grows each night. It shows in the western sky after sunset, and the dark part may glow faintly with earthshine.
- Type
- Moon Phases
- Best season
- Any time of year
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- The days just after new Moon, in the evening
- Lit part
- A thin crescent on the right, growing
- Visible
- Low in the west after sunset, setting a few hours later
- Best for
- Looking for earthshine and fine crater detail with binoculars
- Age
- A day or two to about a week after new Moon
What you will see
- A thin crescent in the west after dusk.
- Earthshine: a faint glow on the dark part of the Moon.
- Craters along the edge of the lit part, in binoculars.
How to watch
- Look to the west soon after sunset.
- Use binoculars to see craters along the terminator, the line between light and dark.
- The sky is still dark enough for stargazing later in the evening.
Field notes
The waxing crescent is a good first target for beginners with binoculars. Details are clearest along the terminator, where the Sun's light skims the surface.
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.