Moon Sightings UK Today: Latest Ramadan 2026 Crescent Updates

Moon Sightings UK Today: what to know

Muslims in the UK look for the new crescent (hilal) after sunset on the 29th day of each Islamic month. If it is seen, the new month begins the next day. If not, the current month completes 30 days. The panel above updates live using London's sunset and moon position, so you can see whether tonight is a sighting evening.

What is the moon phase today?

The phase depends on the angle between the sun and the moon as seen from Earth. When the moon is between us and the sun, its dark side faces us (new moon). As it moves along its orbit, more of the sunlit half becomes visible, reaching full moon about two weeks later. The illumination figure above shows what percentage of the visible disc is lit right now.

How to read the moon phase calendar

Each day in the calendar shows a small moon icon for that day's phase, plus moonrise and moonset in London time. Days with a bold label mark the exact time of a new moon, first quarter, full moon or last quarter. Use the Prev and Next buttons to browse other months, for example to plan around the Islamic months or Ramadan 2027.

The eight moon phases

New Moon: the moon is not visible. Waxing Crescent: a thin sliver appears in the western sky after sunset. First Quarter: half of the disc is lit and the moon is high at sunset. Waxing Gibbous: more than half is lit. Full Moon: the whole disc is lit and the moon rises as the sun sets. Waning Gibbous: the lit part shrinks and the moon rises after sunset. Last Quarter: half is lit, visible in the morning sky. Waning Crescent: a thin sliver is seen before sunrise. From the UK, a waxing moon is lit on its right side and a waning moon on its left.

Moon age and the lunar month

Moon age is the time since the last new moon. One full cycle, the synodic month, lasts about 29.53 days on average. Because of this, an Islamic month is either 29 or 30 days long. A crescent is usually not seen until the moon is roughly 15–20 hours old, and in UK conditions it often needs to be older.

Moonrise and moonset times

Moonrise and moonset are the times the moon's upper edge crosses the horizon. They shift by about 50 minutes each day because the moon orbits Earth in the same direction as Earth spins. A new moon rises and sets with the sun, a full moon rises near sunset, and a crescent sets shortly after the sun, which is why it is only seen low in the west after sunset.

Moon distance, direction and altitude

The moon's distance from Earth changes between about 357,000 km (perigee) and 406,000 km (apogee). A full moon near perigee is often called a supermoon and looks slightly larger and brighter. Altitude is the moon's height above the horizon in degrees, and direction (azimuth) is its compass bearing. A negative altitude means the moon is below the horizon and cannot be seen.

Why the crescent is hard to see from the UK

A young crescent is very thin and sits close to the sun, so it is drowned out by twilight. In the UK the low winter sun, frequent cloud and a hazy western horizon make this harder. Factors that help are a clear western horizon, a moon more than a day old, a large gap between moonset and sunset, and a high altitude at sunset.

Moon sighting and the Islamic calendar

The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is purely lunar, with 12 months of 29 or 30 days, so it is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. The months include Ramadan, Shawwal (which starts with Eid al-Fitr) and Dhul Hijjah (which includes Hajj and Eid al-Adha). Each month starts from a sighting or a calculation, depending on the method a community follows.

Upcoming eclipses linked to the new and full moon

A solar eclipse can only happen at a new moon and a lunar eclipse only at a full moon. An annular solar eclipse is expected on 6 February 2027, seen from parts of Africa and South America but not the UK. A lunar eclipse follows on 20 February 2027 (a penumbral eclipse, which is subtle and easy to miss). Check an astronomy source for local times.

Ramadan 2026 recap

The solar eclipse of 17 February 2026 meant the crescent could not be seen from the UK that evening. Saudi Arabia declared the first fast for Wednesday 18 February, while communities following UK and Morocco sightings began on Thursday 19 February 2026. Eid al-Fitr was expected on 20 March 2026, with some UK communities observing it on 21 March.

Looking ahead to Ramadan 2027

Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin around Monday 8 February 2027, with the sighting attempt on the evening of Sunday 7 February (29th Sha'ban). Eid al-Fitr is expected around 9–10 March 2027. Final dates depend on sightings and announcements.

Who announces UK moon sightings?

Local mosques, the New Crescent Society, the Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOUK) and other committees publish sighting results. The Royal Observatory Greenwich provides astronomical data. Always follow your own mosque or committee for the official start of the month.

How to look for the crescent

Choose a spot with a clear western horizon, such as high ground or the coast. Start about 15 minutes before sunset and keep watching for 30–40 minutes afterwards. Scholars differ on whether binoculars count as a valid sighting, so check with your local committee.

FAQs

Can the moon be seen in the UK tonight?

Check the table above. If the age at sunset is under about 15 hours or the visibility shows "Not visible", the crescent is very unlikely to be seen. Visibility improves a day later.

Why do UK start dates sometimes differ from Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia uses its own sighting and calendar rules (Umm al-Qura), while many UK communities wait for a sighting from the UK or nearby regions. This can move the start by a day.

Is this page an official announcement?

No. The figures are astronomical calculations for planning only, and religious decisions rest with your local scholars and committees.

Last reviewed 10 October 2026. Calculations use a low-precision lunar and solar model, accurate to a few minutes for rise and set times.