Learn how to use the lunar phase calendar on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch to view the next new moon, full moon, moonrise/moonset times, and other details.
The basic meaning of some important lunar terms
- Illumination: Percentage of the moon’s surface facing the Earth that’s lit up by the sun and thus visible to us. Unlike stars, the moon has no light of its own; it merely reflects the sun’s light.
- Full moon: The moon is fully illuminated and visible like a complete bright circle.
- New moon: The moon isn’t illuminated at all, making it invisible to us.
- Moonset: The time the moon sets (goes below the horizon).
- Moonrise: The time the moon rises up (goes above the horizon).
- Moon Distance: The distance between the Earth’s core and the Moon’s core. It varies throughout the month due to the Moon’s elliptical orbit.
See the moon calendar in the Weather app
The built-in Weather app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac features a moon module that provides this information.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the Weather app and set it to the current location (My Location) or any specific city.
- Scroll down to the Waxing Gibbous section with details such as the next moonset time and the number of days until the next full moon.
- Tap the Waxing Gibbous heading for more information, such as Moonrise and Moon Distance. Here, you’ll see more useful details, like the New Moon and Full Moon, along with a beautiful moon phase calendar showing the waxing and waning. Use the slider at the top to check this info for any past or future date and time.
Mac
- Launch the Weather app on your Mac (macOS Sonoma or later required).
- Select My Location or a city in the sidebar.
- Scroll down and click the Waxing Gibbous tile for details like Illumination, Moonset, Moonrise, Next Full Moon, Distance, Lunar Calendar, and New Moon and Full Moon dates. You can drag the slider at the top to go back or forward in time.
See the moon calendar on Apple Watch
The moon calendar is unavailable in the Apple Watch’s built-in Weather app. Until Apple adds it, here are three excellent free alternatives from the App Store.
These apps let you explore details such as the next full moon day, moonrise/moonset times, illumination, and much more from your wrist.
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