Lua is in the waning phase this Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The natural satellite has only 7% visibility and continues to decrease in size in the sky. Faltam two days for the arrival of Lua Nova. The information is from Instituto Nacional of Meteorologia.
The lunar cycle follows the usual pattern. The current phase began on April 10, at 01:55. The transition to Lua Nova is scheduled for the 17th, at 8:54 am. Observadores notices Lua as a thin illuminated slice, with the remainder of the disk dark.
Lua Phase Calendar in April 2026
The month started with Lua Cheia on the 1st, at 11:13 pm. Cinco days later, the satellite entered the waning gibbous phase. Lua Quarto Minguante occurred on the 10th.
The sequence continues with the current waning phase. Depois arrives at Lua Nova on the 17th. Lua Crescente arrives on the 23rd, at 11:33 pm. Cada The stage lasts an average of seven days, with small variations in the complete cycle.
- Moon Cheia: April 1, at 11:13 pm
- Moon Minguante: April 10, at 01:55
- Moon Nova: April 17, at 08:54
- Moon Crescente: April 23, at 11:33 pm
Why does Lua change phase
Lua orbits Terra while Sol always illuminates half of the satellite. The appearance seen from Terra depends on the relative position between the three bodies. In the waning phase, Lua is between the waning quarter and the new one. Apenas A narrow illuminated strip becomes visible.
This configuration happens because the side illuminated by Sol points less and less towards the terrestrial observer. The process is gradual and predictable. Ele repeats every 29.5 days on average, a period called lunation.
The current phase marks the end of the cycle. Ela precedes the moment when Lua is aligned between Terra and Sol. Nessa position, the light side faces Sol and the dark side faces us. Therefore, Lua Nova does not appear in the night sky.
Features of the waning phase
When waning, Lua appears later in the sky and remains visible for less time before dawn. The lighting dims night after night until it almost disappears. Muitos Observers take advantage of this stage to photograph the satellite with cell phones or simple equipment.
The phenomenon does not interfere with most people’s daily activities. Ele serves as a reference for calendars and astronomical studies. Profissionais and amateurs follow the changes to record orbital motion.
The complete lunar cycle
A lunation lasts about 29.5 days. Ela starts at Lua Nova and goes through waxing, full and waning before returning to the starting point. Entre The four main phases exist the gibbous and the rooms.
The gibbous crescent is between the crescent and the full. The gibbous gibbous appears between the flood and the last quarter. Essas Intermediate stages last several days each. Elas shows Lua with more than half of the disk illuminated or less.
The movement results from the combination between Lua’s orbit around Terra and the planet’s rotation. Constant sunlight creates visual variations. The cycle remains stable over centuries, with minimal adjustments due to gravitational factors.
How to observe the waning Lua
Anyone who wants to see Lua today should look at the sky before sunrise or late in the morning. The thin illuminated slice appears on the eastern side of the sky. Aplicativos astronomy help confirm the exact time of visibility in the observer’s region.
The current phase makes photos easier because Lua is low on the horizon at certain times. Evite Strong artificial lights to improve contrast. 7% visibility makes the illuminated edge detail sharper against the dark background.
Instituto Nacional from Meteorologia updates phase data based on accurate astronomical calculations. Dates and times are valid for the time zone Brasília. Pequenas differences may occur in other regions of the country due to longitude.
