On July 15, 2026, the Moon will be in the new phase, showing 3% visibility. The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has made available the complete calendar of lunar phases for the month.
Lunar Cycle in July 2026
The lunar phases in July 2026 began on the 7th with the Waning Moon, recorded at 4:30 PM Brasília time. Subsequently, the New Moon occurred this Tuesday, the 14th, at 6:45 AM. The Waxing Moon will be visible starting from the 21st at 8:05 AM and will culminate with the Full Moon on the 29th at 11:37 AM.
Understanding the Lunar Cycle
A lunar cycle, also known as lunation, is the time interval between two new moons and has an average duration of 29.5 days. During this period, the Moon passes through four main phases: new, waxing, full, and waning, with each phase lasting approximately seven days. In addition to these main phases, there are so-called 'interphases', such as the first quarter and the gibbous crescent (between new and full), and the gibbous waning and the last quarter (between full and waning).
Details of Each Lunar Phase
In the New Moon phase, the satellite is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. Consequently, the illuminated side faces the Sun, while the dark side is turned towards us, which prevents its visibility in the night sky. This phase signals the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is linked to renewal and new opportunities.
After the New Moon, the Waxing phase appears. Slowly, a small illuminated area begins to appear in the sky, progressively increasing each night. Initially, only a thin arc of light is observed, but this illuminated portion grows until half of the Moon is visible, a stage called First Quarter. This period symbolizes development, growth, and the building of new paths.
The Full Moon occurs when the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. This allows the entire lunar face facing us to receive complete illumination, making it completely bright in the sky. It is the moment of greatest luminous intensity, coinciding with the Moon rising on the horizon at the exact moment of sunset. The Full Moon is associated with fullness, the peak of processes, and energy at its maximum level.
Finally, after the Full Moon, the Moon's luminosity begins to gradually decrease. Each night, a smaller portion of its illuminated surface becomes visible. When half of it is visible, the Last Quarter occurs, which is the opposite of the First Quarter. The Moon continues to lose brightness until it returns to the New Moon, thus restarting the cycle. The Waning phase represents reflection, conclusion, and preparation for subsequent beginnings.
Current State of the Moon
Currently, the Moon is in the New phase.
