The month of July brought a new lunar cycle, and the complete calendar of moon phases for this month has been released. The information was provided by the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet).
Dates of the Main Lunar Phases
The lunar phases in July 2026 begin with the Waning Moon on the 7th at 4:30 PM, followed by the New Moon on the 14th at 6:45 AM. Subsequently, the Waxing Moon will appear on the 21st at 8:05 AM, culminating with the Full Moon on the 29th at 11:37 AM.
Understanding the Lunar Cycle
The lunar cycle, also known as lunation or synodic month, spans approximately 29.5 days, during which the Moon completes one orbit around the Earth, displaying all its phases. This phenomenon is determined by the relative positions of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon, which defines the amount of sunlight reflected and visible from our planet.
The cycle begins with the New Moon, a moment when the side illuminated by the Sun faces the hidden side of the Moon, making it almost invisible in the night sky. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the portion facing the planet gradually becomes illuminated, characterizing the Waxing Moon, which progresses until reaching the Full Moon, when its entire visible face is completely illuminated.
Inversion and Interphases
After the Full Moon, the process reverses: the illuminated area begins to decrease, passing through the Waning Moon phase until returning to the New Moon state, thus restarting the cycle. In addition to these main phases, there are so-called 'interphases,' which include the first quarter and waxing gibbous (located between the New Moon and the Full Moon), as well as the waning gibbous and last quarter (located between the Full Moon and the Waning Moon).
