diff --git a/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.cxx b/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.cxx
index ff6fa569..e088e768 100644
--- a/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.cxx
+++ b/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.cxx
@@ -211,4 +211,8 @@ void MoonPos::updatePosition(double mjd, double lst, double lat, Star *ourSun)
   /* SG_LOG( SG_GENERAL, SG_INFO, 
 	  "Ra = (" << (SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES *rightAscension) 
 	  << "), Dec= (" << (SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES *declination) << ")" ); */
+
+  // Moon age and phase calculation
+  age = lonEcl - ourSun->getlonEcl();
+  phase = (1 - cos(age)) / 2;
 }
diff --git a/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.hxx b/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.hxx
index 3462146e..3feb375e 100644
--- a/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.hxx
+++ b/simgear/ephemeris/moonpos.hxx
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ private:
     double xg, yg;     // the moon's rectangular geocentric coordinates
     double ye, ze;     // the moon's rectangular equatorial coordinates
     double distance;   // the moon's distance to the earth
+    double age;        // the moon's age from 0 to 2pi
+    double phase;      // the moon's phase
     // void TexInit();  // This should move to the constructor eventually.
 
     // GLUquadricObj *moonObject;
@@ -64,6 +66,8 @@ public:
     double getye() const;
     double getze() const;
     double getDistance() const;
+    double getAge() const;
+    double getPhase() const;
 };
 
 inline double MoonPos::getM() const
@@ -101,4 +105,14 @@ inline double MoonPos::getDistance() const
   return distance;
 }
 
+inline double MoonPos::getAge() const
+{
+  return age;
+}
+
+inline double MoonPos::getPhase() const
+{
+  return phase;
+}
+
 #endif // _MOONPOS_HXX_
diff --git a/simgear/ephemeris/star.hxx b/simgear/ephemeris/star.hxx
index 838cbce7..955f88ea 100644
--- a/simgear/ephemeris/star.hxx
+++ b/simgear/ephemeris/star.hxx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class Star : public CelestialBody
 
 private:
 
+    double lonEcl;     // the sun's true longitude
     double xs, ys;     // the sun's rectangular geocentric coordinates
     double ye, ze;     // the sun's rectangularequatorial rectangular geocentric coordinates
     double distance;   // the sun's distance to the earth
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ public:
     double getye() const;
     double getze() const;
     double getDistance() const;
+    double getlonEcl() const;
 };
 
 
@@ -88,6 +90,10 @@ inline double Star::getDistance() const
   return distance;
 }
 
+inline double Star::getlonEcl() const
+{
+  return lonEcl;
+}
 
 #endif // _STAR_HXX_