If you step outside and look up at the sky, you’re looking for a ghost. Honestly, that is the best way to describe it. Tonight, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the moon is basically playing hide-and-seek with the entire planet.
It is officially in its Waning Crescent phase.
But don't expect a big, bright banana in the sky. We are currently sitting at about 2% illumination. That is a tiny, razor-thin sliver of light. In fact, it's so thin that for most people living in light-polluted cities, the moon might look like it’s completely gone.
Why you probably can't see it
The moon is currently rushing toward its "New Moon" phase, which happens tomorrow. Because it's so close to the sun from our perspective, it rises just before dawn and sets shortly after the sun does.
If you want to catch a glimpse of what our moon look like tonight, your best bet was actually right before sunrise this morning. By the time the sun goes down this evening, the moon will already be dipping below the horizon, swallowed up by the twilight glow. It’s shy.
The science of the "Old Moon"
In astronomical circles, we often call this the "Old Moon." It’s the very end of the lunar cycle. Think of it as the moon’s final exhale before it resets.
Since it’s only 2% lit, the portion we see is a result of sunlight hitting the far "edge" of the moon as it prepares to move between the Earth and the Sun. If you have a really high-end pair of binoculars or a backyard telescope, you might see something called Earthshine.
Earthshine is pretty magical. It’s when the "dark" part of the moon glows ever so slightly. This isn't from direct sunlight. Instead, it’s sunlight reflecting off Earth’s oceans and clouds, bouncing onto the moon, and then coming back to your eyes.
It gives the moon a ghostly, 3D appearance. You can see the faint outline of the full circle even though only a tiny sliver is actually "lit."
Stargazing conditions for January 17, 2026
Since the moon is practically invisible tonight, it’s actually the perfect night for something else: deep-space observing.
Moonlight is basically natural light pollution. When the moon is full, it washes out the stars. But tonight? The sky is a blank canvas.
- Jupiter is the star of the show. The gas giant reached "opposition" just a week ago on January 10. This means it’s still incredibly bright and visible all night long. If you look toward the constellation Gemini, you can't miss it. It’s the brightest "star" up there.
- The Winter Circle. Since it's mid-January, the famous Winter Circle (or Hexagon) is dominating the sky. You’ve got Sirius, Rigel, Aldebaran, and Capella all putting on a show.
- Aries and the "Hoofprint." There’s a fun bit of lunar lore regarding the constellation Aries this time of year. Some observers call certain rille complexes on the moon "hoofprints," but you'll have to wait for the moon to wax (grow) again later this month to see those details.
The January 2026 Lunar Calendar
If you missed the moon tonight, don't worry. The cycle is predictable. Here is how the rest of the month is shaping up:
The New Moon: January 18
Tomorrow, the moon will be at 0% illumination. It will be positioned directly between us and the sun. Unless there’s a solar eclipse (which there isn’t tomorrow), it is totally invisible.
The First Quarter: January 25
By next Sunday, the moon will have swung around enough to show us exactly half of its face. This is a great time for photography because the shadows in the craters are very long and dramatic.
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The Next Full Moon: February 1
We’ll have to wait until the start of February to see the "Snow Moon." This will be a big, bright beacon in the sky, rising right as the sun sets.
What most people get wrong about crescent moons
A lot of people think the shadow on the moon is caused by the Earth. It’s a super common mistake.
Unless it’s a lunar eclipse, the shadow you see on the moon is actually the moon’s own shadow. You are looking at the "night side" of the moon. Just like Earth has a day and a night, so does the moon. Tonight, the moon is mostly turned away from the sun, so we are staring at its night-time landscape.
Also, the "horns" of the crescent moon always point away from the sun. If you see a crescent in the evening, the points will be facing east. If you see it in the morning, they'll be facing west.
Actionable steps for tonight’s sky
If you’re planning on heading out, here is how to make the most of this nearly moonless night:
- Find a "Dark Sky" spot. Check a light pollution map. Since there’s no moon to interfere, this is the best time to see the Milky Way or faint nebulas like the Orion Nebula.
- Look for Jupiter. Use an app like Stellarium or SkyGuide. Jupiter is so bright right now that it might even cast a very faint shadow if you're in a truly dark location.
- Check the Perihelion status. We are still very close to Earth's perihelion (our closest point to the sun in our orbit), which happened earlier this month. This doesn't change the moon's look, but it's a cool fact to know while you're out there.
- Prepare for the "Young Moon" on the 19th. In two days, look toward the west right after sunset. You’ll see a "Young Moon," a tiny sliver returning to the evening sky. It’s one of the prettiest sights in astronomy.
The moon might be a ghost tonight, but that just means the rest of the universe gets a chance to shine.
Next Steps for Your Observation:
Check your local weather forecast for cloud cover percentages around 10:00 PM tonight. If the skies are clear, grab a stargazing app and head away from streetlights to view Jupiter at its peak brightness in the Gemini constellation.