Moon phase images, free to use
Eight original moon phase illustrations, in SVG (scales without losing quality) and 1024-pixel PNG with a transparent background. For class, for your website or for your notes: free, commercial use included, as long as you credit TidePlanet.
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Transparent SVG and PNG
- ✓ CC BY 4.0 license
The eight phases
Download all 8 as a ZIP (SVG and PNG, 3.2 MB)-
New moon
0% litThe moon sits between Earth and the sun and shows us its dark side. It cannot be seen. It rises and sets with the sun.
SVG · New moon PNG 1024 px · New moon -
Waxing crescent
15% litA sliver of light that grows each evening. Look west at dusk, shortly after sunset.
SVG · Waxing crescent PNG 1024 px · Waxing crescent -
First quarter
50% litHalf moon lit on the right (in the Northern Hemisphere). It rises around noon and is up in the afternoon and the first half of the night.
SVG · First quarter PNG 1024 px · First quarter -
Waxing gibbous
85% litMore than half and growing. Visible from the afternoon until late at night.
SVG · Waxing gibbous PNG 1024 px · Waxing gibbous -
Full moon
100% litThe whole face lit: Earth sits between the sun and the moon. It rises at sunset and is up all night.
SVG · Full moon PNG 1024 px · Full moon -
Waning gibbous
85% litStarting to shrink from the right. It rises after dusk and stays up until morning.
SVG · Waning gibbous PNG 1024 px · Waning gibbous -
Last quarter
50% litHalf moon lit on the left. It rises around midnight and is visible before dawn and in the morning.
SVG · Last quarter PNG 1024 px · Last quarter -
Waning crescent
15% litA sliver of light in the east at dawn, thinner each day, before the new moon.
SVG · Waning crescent PNG 1024 px · Waning crescent
License and how to credit
The illustrations are by TidePlanet and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). You can copy, share, change and use them for any purpose, including commercial use.
The only condition is to credit the source with a link to this page. For example:
Moon phases: © TidePlanet, CC BY 4.0
Upside down in the Southern Hemisphere
The images show the moon as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. From the Southern Hemisphere (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa…) it looks rotated: the waxing crescent is lit on the left. If you need it that way, rotate the image 180°.
Upcoming phases
- Last quarter
- New moon
- First quarter
- Full moon
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these images commercially?
Yes. The CC BY 4.0 license allows any use, commercial included, as long as you credit “© TidePlanet, CC BY 4.0” with a link to this page.
How do I credit them?
“Moon phases: © TidePlanet, CC BY 4.0” near the image or in the credits, with a link to this page, is enough. In print, write out the address.
Why is the waxing crescent lit on the right?
Because the sun lights it from the west at dusk. From the Northern Hemisphere we see it lit on the right; from the Southern Hemisphere, on the left.
Can I change the colors or the size?
Yes. The SVG can be edited in any drawing app (Inkscape, Illustrator, Figma) and scales without losing quality. If you change them, still credit the original.
More tools
- Moon calendarEvery moon phase of the year, eclipses, supermoons and the best fishing days. Printable too.
- Solunar calendarMajor and minor periods and the activity rating for every day of the month.
- Sunrise and sunsetSunrise, sunset, twilight and golden hour for any place.
- Tide coefficient calculatorThe tide coefficient for any place and day, or from the tidal range, with the 20–120 scale explained.
All of this, already worked out for your spot
Every coastal town, beach and harbor has its own page with today’s tide, the yearly tide table, sun, moon and the best time to fish.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us · How we calculate tides, sun and moon