On August 30, 2026, the Moon will be in the full phase and will have 96% visibility. The National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has made available the complete calendar of lunar phases for this month.
The lunar phases for August 2026 began on the 5th with the Waning Moon at 11:22 PM Brasília time. Subsequently, the New Moon occurred on the 12th at 2:37 PM. The Waxing Moon appeared on the 19th at 11:46 PM, and the Full Moon was recorded on Friday, the 28th, at 1:19 AM.
A lunar cycle, also known as lunation, refers to 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,' which include the first quarter and the gibbous crescent (located between the new and full phases), as well as the waning gibbous and the last quarter (between the full and waning phases).
Details of the Lunar Phases
During the New Moon phase, the satellite is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. This results in only the side illuminated by the Sun facing the Sun, while the dark side faces us, making the Moon invisible in the night sky. This phase signals the beginning of a new lunar cycle and is associated with renewal and new opportunities.
After the New Moon, the Waxing phase begins. Slowly, a small illuminated band starts to be observed in the sky, progressively increasing each night. Initially, only a thin arc of light is perceived, but as the days advance, the illuminated area grows until it reaches half of the Moon, a moment called First Quarter. This phase represents development, growth, and the building of new paths.
In the Full Moon phase, the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon. This configuration allows the entire lunar face facing us to receive complete illumination, making it fully visible and bright in the firmament. This is the period of maximum luminous intensity, occurring when the Moon rises on the horizon simultaneously with sunset. The Full Moon is associated with fullness, the peak of processes, and energy at its highest level.
After the Full Moon, the lunar luminosity begins to gradually decline. Each night, the illuminated portion of the surface decreases. When half of the Moon 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, restarting the cycle. The Waning phase symbolizes reflection, closure, and preparation for subsequent beginnings.
Currently, the Moon is in the Full phase.