Today's Moon Nakshatra
Which of the 27 nakshatras the Moon is passing through right now, when it moves on, and where it goes over the next week.
Today's nakshatra is the sidereal star group the Moon is passing through right now. The Moon moves through one nakshatra in about a day, so it changes once every 21 to 27 hours, at any time of day rather than at midnight. The live panel below shows the current nakshatra, when it ends, and the nakshatras for the coming week.
The week ahead
| Moon enters | Nakshatra |
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How the Moon moves through the nakshatras
The Moon circles the zodiac against the stars in about 27.3 days, and the 27 nakshatras divide that circle into equal segments of 13°20′, one for roughly each day of the trip. Because the Moon speeds up and slows down along its orbit, between about 12° and 15° a day, a nakshatra can last anywhere from about 21 to 27 hours. That is why the change can fall in the middle of the afternoon or overnight.
Positions here use the sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa, the standard in Vedic astrology. Indian calendars (panchangs) often name the day by the nakshatra in force at sunrise, so a printed calendar may list a different nakshatra for a date than the one the Moon is in at this moment.
What people use today's nakshatra for
Think of it as a weather report for the mood of the day rather than a forecast. Each nakshatra has its own tone. When the Moon is in Pushya, a nurturing, steady star, the day is traditionally seen as good for beginnings and care. In Ardra, the tone is stormier and more intense, better for clearing things out than for delicate conversations. In Hasta, the focus turns to skill and practical work.
People use this in small ways: picking a day to start something, noticing why a day feels restless, or simply tracking the Moon's rhythm. Each nakshatra's own page describes its tone in more detail.
Comparing today with your birth star
A traditional way to make the daily nakshatra personal is to count from your own birth nakshatra (janma nakshatra) to today's. Count your birth star as 1 and keep counting forward through the list until you reach today's star. If the number is above 9, subtract 9 (or 18) to get a number from 1 to 9.
- 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 are traditionally seen as easier, more supportive days.
- 3, 5 and 7 are seen as harder days, better for routine than for big launches.
- 1, your own star returning, is a sensitive day, often read as a time to look after yourself.
An example: if your birth star is Rohini and today is Punarvasu, count Rohini 1, Mrigashira 2, Ardra 3, Punarvasu 4: a 4, an easier day. If your star is Revati and today is Bharani, wrap around the list: Revati 1, Ashwini 2, Bharani 3, a day to take it slow.
Keep it light. This is a small, old rhythm worth noticing, not a reason to cancel plans. It cycles every nine days or so, so harder days pass quickly. If you don't know your birth star, the nakshatra calculator will find it from your birth date, time and place.
- Nakshatra calculatorFind your own birth star
- The 27 nakshatrasEvery star's meaning and lord
- Vedic birth chartYour full sidereal chart
Questions people ask
What nakshatra is today?
The panel at the top of this page shows the nakshatra the Moon is in right now, worked out from its sidereal position with the Lahiri ayanamsa, along with the time it changes and the week ahead. The Moon moves into a new nakshatra roughly once a day, so check back if you are reading this later.
How long does the Moon stay in one nakshatra?
About a day. Each nakshatra spans 13°20′ of the zodiac, and the Moon moves between about 12° and 15° a day depending on where it is in its orbit. So it spends roughly 21 to 27 hours in each nakshatra, and the change can happen at any hour.
Why does my calendar show a different nakshatra for today?
Indian calendars usually name a day by the nakshatra in force at local sunrise in India, while this page shows where the Moon is right now. If the Moon changed nakshatra during the day, the two will differ. Different time zones and ayanamsa settings can also shift the listed change times.
Is it good when the Moon is in my birth nakshatra?
It is traditionally seen as a sensitive day rather than a good or bad one. Your own star returning tends to put your feelings and needs in the foreground. Many people treat it as a day to take care of themselves and avoid overloading the schedule. It comes around about every 27 days.
What is the difference between today's nakshatra and my nakshatra?
Your nakshatra, or birth star, is where the Moon was when you were born, and it never changes. Today's nakshatra is where the Moon is now, and it changes about once a day. Comparing the two is a simple traditional way to get a personal sense of the day.