See tonight’s Moon phase and illumination, then check where to look at 9 PM using your selected observing location.
Your browser is calculating the current lunar geometry.
The phase above refers to 9 PM in the observing-location timezone, with device-time fallback when needed.
Use the Moon sky map below to check direction and height above your horizon. A bright Moon can still be below the horizon.
Calculated sky position does not include clouds, buildings or terrain. A low Moon may be obstructed.
Daily phase and illumination estimates at your local noon. Compare each day’s appearance; the live sky map below continues to show your current observing time.
The Moon images use NASA LRO near-side imagery with a schematic phase shadow. Phase timing is approximate; for exact quarter and Full Moon instants, use the USNO-based Full Moon Calendar.
Times are shown in your browser’s local timezone unless marked UTC.
Follow the Moon across your local sky, then explore its complete surface and Apollo landing sites.
Position is calculated in your browser from your saved location and selected local time.
The sky dome shows geometric position and the calculated horizon crossing. It does not include clouds, terrain, buildings or local light pollution.
Tap a blue crater marker for its measured diameter and story; gold markers identify Apollo landing sites. Click elsewhere for approximate coordinates.
FAR SIDENEAR SIDEFAR SIDE
Longitude and latitude are shown in the lunar coordinate reference used by the map.
View this crater in the USGS/IAU Gazetteer ↗Select a name to locate it on the global NASA surface mosaic. Diameters and center coordinates come from the USGS/IAU Gazetteer; the blue markers identify approximate crater centers. Map markers show reference locations and do not predict illumination or visibility tonight.
“Moon phase tonight” uses 9:00 p.m. in your browser’s local timezone as a convenient evening reference, while moonrise and moonset calculations use your observing coordinates.
If your local evening has already passed, the page still shows the phase for tonight’s 9:00 p.m. timestamp and the next full moon date.
MOON TOOL GUIDE & ASTRONOMY EXPLAINER
Moon Phase Tonight is designed around a practical observing question: what should the Moon look like during your local evening? The tool uses 9:00 p.m. in your browser’s local timezone as a consistent evening reference and combines that phase estimate with local moonrise, moonset and sky-position information.
The Moon’s phase changes continuously, but only very slightly over a few hours. Choosing a consistent 9:00 p.m. local reference makes the page easy to interpret for evening planning without pretending that the Moon suddenly changes phase at a particular clock time. If 9:00 p.m. has already passed, the tool still describes that evening reference for the local date.
A beautifully illuminated Moon can still be below your horizon at 9:00 p.m. Moonrise and moonset depend on your location and on where the Moon is in its orbit. Use the location controls and check the local rise/set values, or open Moon Live Tracker to see current altitude and azimuth.
A waxing crescent is usually an early-evening object after New Moon. First Quarter places a roughly half-lit Moon prominently in the evening sky. Waxing gibbous phases remain visible for longer and lead toward Full Moon. After Full Moon, the waning Moon rises progressively later, so a waning crescent is more naturally associated with the pre-dawn sky than the early evening.
These are general patterns rather than fixed clock schedules. Season, latitude and the Moon’s changing declination can noticeably alter the exact rise and set times.
More illumination does not always mean more interesting telescopic detail. Around quarter phases and crescents, the boundary between lunar day and night—the terminator—casts long shadows across craters and mountains. Near Full Moon, illumination is strong but shadows are shorter across much of the visible disk, which can make surface relief look flatter.
Start with the tonight phase and illumination, then check moonrise and moonset. If the Moon is up, use altitude and azimuth to decide where to look and whether buildings or trees may block the view. Weather and cloud cover are not supplied by this Moon tool, so local conditions still need to be checked separately.
For the current instant rather than the evening reference, use Moon Phase Today. For the next full-phase event and countdown, use Next Full Moon. If the phase is near Full Moon and you are checking for an eclipse, open Lunar Eclipse Tonight.
SpaceTracker.live uses compact browser-side astronomy formulae for lunar position and illumination. The results are intended for general education and observing preparation. Your device timezone determines what “9:00 p.m. tonight” means, and the saved observer coordinates determine local rise/set and sky geometry. Professional observatories and precision applications should use high-accuracy ephemerides.
A tonight forecast samples the Moon around a representative local evening time, whereas the current phase on Moon Phase Today reflects this moment. On most nights the two values are close, but the Moon continues to move and illuminate differently as time passes. If you observe before sunset or near dawn, use the live position tool and check Moonrise and Moonset to avoid assuming the Moon remains above your horizon throughout the night.
To photograph lunar terrain, a terminator near First or Last Quarter can make crater shadows stand out. To observe faint galaxies or meteors, aim for a darker interval when a bright Moon is below the horizon. The stargazing planner helps compare the available dark hours. NASA's Moon phase guide explains why the visible lit portion changes.
A world-wide phase event occurs once at a particular instant, yet local clocks assign it different dates. If you need the exact upcoming Full Moon instant instead of a visual phase estimate, consult Next Full Moon or the official-time yearly list. Tonight's chart is for practical observation; the live Moon visualization uses a schematic phase shadow over NASA LRO near-side imagery, not a live photo of this exact evening.
A phase estimate suggests the overall lighting, but the exact view of an individual crater changes as the Sun–Moon angle evolves. Use the Moon surface map to locate Archimedes (81.04 km) and nearby Aristillus (54.37 km) in Mare Imbrium. The site presents their fixed coordinates and sizes from the USGS/IAU Gazetteer; the live tracker helps determine whether the Moon is above your horizon tonight.
It is a practical, consistent local-evening reference rather than a special astronomical boundary.
Usually not dramatically; the phase evolves continuously over the roughly 29.5-day synodic cycle.
Late waning phases generally rise in the early-morning hours and are better placed before sunrise.
No. It calculates lunar astronomy; weather and local obstructions must be checked separately.
Educational-use note: SpaceTracker.live is an independent educational website. Moon positions, phases, distances and rise/set times on these tools are calculated values and can differ slightly from high-precision professional ephemerides.
