Understanding the phases
A lunar cycle begins with the new moon ๐, when the side facing Earth is dark. Over the next two weeks the lit part grows, or waxes, through the waxing crescent ๐, first quarter ๐ and waxing gibbous ๐ until the full moon ๐. Then it shrinks, or wanes, through the waning gibbous ๐, last quarter ๐ and waning crescent ๐, before the whole cycle starts again.
Northern and Southern Hemisphere views
The moon phase emojis show the moon as it looks from the Northern Hemisphere, where a waxing moon is lit on the right. From Australia, South Africa or Argentina the moon appears flipped, so a waxing crescent there looks more like ๐. If you are tracking the sky south of the equator, read the sequence as a mirror image or mention your location to avoid confusion.
What the moon faces mean
The four moon faces have taken on a life of their own. The new moon face ๐ became a meme for a sly, awkward or slightly creepy look, while the full moon face ๐ reads as cheerful or a little smug. The first quarter ๐ and last quarter ๐ faces often appear at bedtime next to ๐ด, and many people place them side by side to frame a goodnight message.
Frequently asked questions
What is the order of the moon phase emojis?
The order is ๐ new moon, ๐ waxing crescent, ๐ first quarter, ๐ waxing gibbous, ๐ full moon, ๐ waning gibbous, ๐ last quarter and ๐ waning crescent. After that, the cycle starts again with the new moon.
What does ๐ mean?
The new moon face ๐ is famous for its knowing side-eye. People use it for mischief, awkward situations, flirting or something slightly creepy. It is often paired with ๐ full moon face to show a dramatic change in mood.
Which emoji is the crescent moon?
๐ crescent moon is the general-purpose crescent, used for night, sleep, dreams and Ramadan greetings. It is not one of the eight phase emojis; for a specific phase, use ๐ waxing crescent or ๐ waning crescent instead.