Third Quarter

The third quarter moon occurs when the other half of the Moon is illuminated compared to the first quarter. On the day of third quarter, the Moon rises approximately in the middle of the night and sets in the middle of the day.

Location: Moon is 270 - 315 degrees ahead of the Sun

Third Quarter Moon Phase

Last Quarter Moon Phase Explained

What is a last quarter moon? The last quarter moon, sometimes known as the third quarter moon or a half moon, is defined to occur when the excess of the apparent ecliptic (celestial) longitude of the Moon over that of the Sun is 270 degrees. This means that one-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight and the fraction of the Moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing. Each new lunar cycle is measured beginning at each new moon and the last quarter moon occurs when the Moon is three-quarters of the way around the sky (i.e., along its orbit) from new moon.

2023 Third Quarter Calendar

DateTimeDaySign
January 1502:13 AMSunday Libra
February 1304:03 PMMonday Scorpio
March 1502:10 AMWednesday Sagittarius
April 1309:12 AMThursday Capricorn
May 1202:29 PMFriday Aquarius
June 1007:32 PMSaturday Pisces
July 1001:49 AMMonday Aries
August 810:29 AMTuesday Taurus
September 610:22 PMWednesday Gemini
October 601:49 PMFriday Cancer
November 508:38 AMSunday Leo
December 505:51 AMTuesday Virgo

Positive activities

Release of any negativity, not just banishing it but consciously letting go of it. Continuing any banishing done during the last phase. The third quarter, Full Moon through Last Quarter, ideally brings illumination to the influences of the entire lunar cycle. The fourth quarter, called the "Last Quarter", is from the Moon square Sun aspect through the next New Moon. It can bring a crisis in consciousness. This cycle’s experiences have culminated and one must now prepare for rebirth.

Moon Phases

Moon Now: 50%
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Moon Phase: First Quarter