Lab #2. Observing the Sky

Lunar Phase Times (Spring 2026)

These are the dates and times of new and first quarter moon phases during Spring 2026. Times are adjusted for Daylight Saving from March through November. Note that 12:00 pm is noon, and 12:00 am is midnight.

The first two columns give the dates and times for the new moon phases from January through July. The next two contain the dates and times for the first quarter phases, occurring roughly a week later. The next two tell us the dates and times at which each first quarter moon (FQM) will culminate (rise to its highest altitude in the sky). Note that this sometimes occurs the evening before, rather than after, the exact time of the first quarter moon. The final column tells us the declination (dec) of the Moon when the first quarter moon is culminating, or how far it lies, in degrees, above or below the Equator.

For Las Cruces, New Mexico:

New Moon				First Quarter Moon				FQM Culminations				Lunar Dec
Date		Time		Date		Time		Date		Time		Degrees
January	18,	12:52	pm	January	25,	9:47	pm	January	25,	5:46	pm	16.5
February	17,	5:01	am	February	24,	5:28	am	February	23,	5:32	pm	24.8
March	18,	7:23	pm	March	25,	1:18	pm	March	25,	7:32	pm	27.6
April	17,	5:52	am	April	23,	8:32	pm	April	23,	7:23	pm	22.0
May	16,	2:01	pm	May	23,	5:11	am	May	22,	7:01	pm	13.0
June	14,	8:54	pm	June	21,	3:55	pm	June	21,	7:10	pm	-3.8
July	14,	3:44	am	July	21,	5:06	am	July	20,	6:31	pm	-13.6

Hide data for Las Cruces, New Mexico Upwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Carson, California Downwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Los Angeles, California Downwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Portland, OR Downwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Orange City, IA Downwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Washington, D.C. Downwards-pointing arrow

Show data for Rochester, NY Downwards-pointing arrow

We also provide information on the last quarter moons. The first two columns again give the dates and times for the new moon phases. The next two contain the dates and times for the last quarter phases, occurring roughly three weeks later. The next two tell us the dates and times at which each last quarter moon (LQM) will culminate. The final column tells us the declination of the Moon when the last quarter moon is culminating.

For Las Cruces, New Mexico:

New Moon				Last Quarter Moon				LQM Culminations				Lunar Dec
Date		Time		Date		Time		Date		Time		Degrees
December	19,	6:43	pm	January	10,	8:48	am	January	10,	5:51	am	-11.0
January	18,	12:52	pm	February	9,	5:43	am	February	9,	5:56	am	-23.5
February	17,	5:01	am	March	11,	3:39	am	March	11,	7:16	am	-29.1
March	18,	7:23	pm	April	9,	10:52	pm	April	10,	7:41	am	-25.4
April	17,	5:52	am	May	9,	3:10	pm	May	9,	7:10	am	-18.7
May	16,	2:01	pm	June	8,	4:01	am	June	8,	7:18	am	-3.4
June	14,	8:54	pm	July	7,	1:29	pm	July	7,	6:43	am	7.4
July	14,	3:44	am	August	5,	8:21	pm	August	6,	7:10	am	22.6