The sky on Tuesday, December 29, 2026
| Sun in | Capricorn |
|---|---|
| Moon in | Virgo |
| Moon phase | Last Quarter |
| Illumination | 64% |
| Exact aspects | Sun square Saturn |
| Mercury retrograde | No |
Sun and Saturn stand about ninety degrees apart today, a square, which astrologers read as friction between two ways of moving. The Moon is in Virgo, near its last quarter, shrinking toward new.
What is a last quarter moon?
A last quarter moon is the half lit Moon on the far side of the cycle, ninety degrees from the Sun again, and it is the month's second square.
It rises around midnight and sits high at dawn, which is why it feels like a morning moon. At its exact moment half the disc is lit; across the days this phase covers, illumination falls from about two thirds toward a third, on its way to the next new moon.
The first quarter square asked what a beginning costs. This one asks what is worth carrying forward, which is a harder question because it usually means letting something go on purpose.
Framing it as a decision keeps it honest. The phase marks the timing, and the choice about what to keep stays yours.