The Moon tonight
Phase, rise and set times for your location, worked out on your phone. Tap Find it and your phone will point you straight to the Moon.
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Working out your sky…
Why the Moon has phases
Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun. As it circles Earth about once a month, we see different amounts of that lit half, from a thin crescent to a full moon and back again.
When the Moon is up
A full moon rises around sunset and stays up all night. A first-quarter moon is high at sunset and sets around midnight, while a last-quarter moon rises around midnight and is still up in the morning, often visible in daylight.
The Moon and stargazing
A bright Moon washes out faint stars and meteors. For the darkest skies, plan around the new moon, or wait until the Moon has set.
Questions
Why can I see the Moon during the day?
The Moon is up for about half of every day, and when it’s far enough from the Sun it’s bright enough to see in a blue sky. A quarter moon is especially easy to spot in the afternoon or morning.
What does the percentage mean?
It’s how much of the Moon’s face looks lit from Earth: about 0% at new moon and 100% at full moon.