Phases of Moon is a new GNOME Shell extension that enhances previous moon tracking tools by not only displaying the current lunar phase but also showing a visual representation of it. When opened, the panel icon reveals a well-illuminated moon that corresponds to the current lunar phase along with details on upcoming phases.
Earlier this year, a similar tool named Luna was reviewed, but it has faced some issues recently. In contrast, Phases of Moon serves as a strong alternative that remains visible in the top bar, making it easy to monitor the lunar phase without interrupting your workflow.
The extension displays the current phase along with additional information such as the phase name, illumination percentage, the age of the current phase, and a countdown to the next event. Most calculations are run locally on your device, but it also gathers information from Starwalk, ensuring accuracy.
Users can customize the extension with options to choose different moon graphics and adjust its position among other icons on the top bar.
This tool is a fun way for anyone interested in astronomy, photography, or even mythological themes like werewolves to connect with the lunar cycle.
To install, you can access the extension from GNOME Extensions. It is compatible with GNOME versions 46 through 49, making it suitable for those running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or later.
For users interested in exploring the source code, it is available on GitHub.