Crescent Area Calculator

Enter the radius of the main circle (r₁), the radius of the covering circle (r₂), and the distance between centers (d) to calculate the crescent (lune) area. You'll also get the overlapping area and the second lune area — all based on the precise two-circle intersection formula.

units

Radius of the base (main) circle.

units

Radius of the circle that partially overlaps the main circle.

units

Distance between the centers of the two circles. Must be less than r₁ + r₂ for overlap to exist.

Results

Crescent / Lune 1 Area

--

Overlap Area

--

Lune 2 Area

--

Main Circle Area (πr₁²)

--

Covering Circle Area (πr₂²)

--

Shape Classification

--

Area Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a crescent in geometry?

A crescent is a specific type of lune — a concave-convex region formed by two circular arcs. It is defined as a lune that does not contain the center of the original (main) circle. This occurs when the distance between the two circle centers is less than the radius of the covering circle.

What is the difference between a crescent, a lune, and a lens?

A lens is a convex-convex region where both circular arcs curve outward. A lune is a concave-convex region where one arc curves outward and the other curves inward. A crescent is a special lune where the center of the main circle lies outside the overlapping region — i.e., the covering circle's center is close enough to exclude the main center.

What formula is used to calculate the crescent (lune) area?

The lune area is calculated using: Lune₁ = ½√((r₁+r₂+d)(r₂+d−r₁)(d+r₁−r₂)(r₁+r₂−d)) + r₁²·arccos((r₂²−r₁²−d²)/(2·r₁·d)) − r₂²·arccos((r₂²+d²−r₁²)/(2·r₂·d)). The overlap area equals πr₁² − Lune₁, and Lune₂ equals πr₂² − overlap area.

What conditions are required for a valid crescent or lune to exist?

For the two circles to overlap at all, the distance d between centers must satisfy |r₁ − r₂| < d < r₁ + r₂. If d ≥ r₁ + r₂, the circles don't overlap (no lune). If d ≤ |r₁ − r₂|, one circle is entirely inside the other, which is also a special case.

How do I know if my shape is a crescent vs. a general lune?

Your shape is a crescent specifically when the covering circle's center is close enough to the main circle's center that the main circle's center is excluded from the overlap region. Mathematically, this happens when d < r₂ (the distance between centers is less than the covering circle's radius).

Can I use this calculator for any unit of measurement?

Yes. The calculator is unit-agnostic. Enter your radii and distance in any consistent unit — centimeters, meters, inches, feet, etc. — and the area result will be in the square of that unit (e.g., cm², m², in²).

What is the overlapping area used for?

The overlapping area (also called the lens or intersection area) represents the region shared by both circles. It's useful in geometry, optics, architecture, and design to understand how much of each disk is covered by the other.

What does Lune 2 represent?

Lune 2 is the crescent-shaped area of the covering circle that does not overlap with the main circle. It equals the full area of circle 2 minus the overlapping area. Together, Lune 1, the overlap, and Lune 2 account for the total combined area of both circles.

More Math Tools