How to Show Lunar/Moon Phases in Google Calendar

Google Calendar is the go-to Calendar app for most people organizing their lives online. While most of our interactions involve putting in appointments and reminders, you can display any number of different calendars in Google Calendar, including a moon phases or lunar calendar, which keeps you updated on the phases of the moon throughout the year.

So here we’re going to quickly show you how to display the lunar calendar built into Google Calendar.

First, open up your Google Calendar, then click the cog icon -> Settings.

Show Lunar Moon Phases Calendar Settings

In the left-hand pane, click “Add calendar” then “Browse calendars of interest”.

Show Lunar Moon Phases Calendar Of Interest

Right near the bottom of the list that appears, you should see “Phases of the Moon”. Check the box, and you’re set!

Show Moon Phases Calendar on Phone

Now before you start looking to do the same on your phone, it looks like at this point you can’t enable the Moon Phases Calendar in Google Calendar on your phone.

Instead, you can try an app like My Moon Phase or Phases of the Moon on Android or Calendar Moon Phases on iOS to keep track of that big old pie in the sky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are moon phases the same everywhere?

Moon phases are a cosmic phenomenon between the moon and sun, affected by how much of the moon is illuminated by the sun. This means that wherever you are on Earth you’ll experience the same moon phases, although those in the northern and southern hemisphere will see it from a different perspective. This means that in the northern hemisphere it increases its phase from right to left, and in the southern hemisphere from left to right.

Are moon phases cyclic?

Yes, the moon takes approximately one month (29.5 days) to orbit the Earth, during which time it completes its cycle from new moon through full moon to waning crescent and back to new moon.

How long is a moon phase?

This depends. Technically, the eight phases of the moon are really arbitrary markers because the moon is constantly orbiting the Earth and its ‘phase’ really changes every single second throughout its cycle. But if we’re not being pedantic and just counting the eight phases, then each lasts about 3.69 days.

Are moon phases caused by the Earth’s shadow?

No, the moon phases are caused by the amount of the moon that is illuminated by the sun, and our position relative to it. The Earth doesn’t affect the amount of the moon that’s shaded, but the sun (and when there’s an eclipse, it’s caused by the moon being positioned perfectly between the Earth and the Sun).

Are you fed up of Google’s snooping and open to a different calendar app? Try one of these alternatives to Google Calendar. Or if you want to dig deeper into Google Calendar instead, see how to add Calendar events directly from your Chrome address bar.