Where can i see the moon tonight

Unlike the Sun, the Moon rises at all different times of the day and night. Enjoy our lunar puzzle to know when the Moon will rise! Plus, find out why can we see the Moon during the day.

What is the Definition of Moonrise? 

Moonrise is defined as the moment when the upper edge of the Moon’s disk touches the horizon.

Finding Moonrise Times

• Moonrise (and, incidentally, the time of high tide) occurs about 50 minutes later each day than the day before.
• To determine the time of moonrise for each day of the month, just add 50 minutes for each day after a phase or subtract 50 minutes for each day prior to a new phase.
• In following the chart below, care must be taken when using the terms Moon and midnight. These are affected by adjustments for daylight saving time and to a lesser degree by one’s longitude in a particular time zone. (Sunrise and sunset, of course, are definitive times regardless of people’s tamperings with the clock.)

Moonrise Chart

Folks who enjoy the outdoors and the wonders of nature may wish to commit to memory the words on our handy chart below.

Moonrise Calculator

Of course, you can always check the Almanac’s Moonrise calculator for the exact times in your zip code!

Why Is the New Moon Invisible?

The new Moon is invisible because it is approximately between Earth and the Sun, so the dark half of the Moon is facing us and the sunlit half is facing the Sun. (Sometimes, the new Moon is directly in front of the Sun, in which case we’d see a solar eclipse.)

One or two days after the date of the new Moon, we can see it in the western sky as a thin crescent setting just after sunset.

Why Can We See the Moon During the Day?

Have you ever seen the Moon during the day?  Just like the stars and planets, the Moon is not simply a nighttime object. It’s there during the daytime, too.

One reason we can’t see the Moon during the day is because the Sun is so bright! 

Another reason is because it depends on which phase it is in. As the Moon and Earth orbit, the Moon is only visible above the horizon roughly 12 hours out of every 24 hours. However, those 12 hours may not coincide with daylight hours, so for any chance of observing, there is only a small 6-hour timeframe.

The best Moon phase for seeing the Moon during daylight is the First Quarter and Last Quarter, when the Moon is 90 degrees away from the Sun in the sky. Near the New Moon, it’s too close to the Sun to be visible and when it is near the full Moon, it is only visible at night after the Sun sets.

See your Moon Phase Calendar.

More Moon Facts

A little confused about some of these Moon terms? Check out our glossary of lunar terms.

Why does the Moon sometimes look so big when it’s rising? Find out!

Find out your Moonrise and set times, and also your Sunrise and set times.

Moon

Moon rise

The Captivating Crescent Moon

Moon Glossary: Lunar Terms and Definitions

What Is a New Moon?

What Is the Harvest Moon?

Beaver Moon: Full Moon in November 2022

Cold Moon: Full Moon in December 2022

Get Almanac’s Daily Updates

Free Email Newsletter

Email Address

BONUS: You’ll also receive our free Beginner Gardening Guide!

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments

Add a Comment