Live celestial data
Moon Position.
The moon's position right now — phase, illumination, direction, altitude, moonrise, moonset, and next lunar events.
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Direction
—
— azimuth
Altitude
—
above horizon
Moonrise
—
your local time
Moonset
—
your local time
Moon Age
—
of 29.5-day cycle
Distance
—
km from Earth
Next Full Moon
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Next New Moon
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Understanding moon phases.
How does the moon phase work?
The moon orbits Earth in about 29.5 days (a synodic month). As it does, sunlight hits it from different angles, creating the phases we see. New moon (dark), waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent — then new moon again.
What does illumination percentage mean?
It's the percentage of the moon's visible face that is lit by sunlight from your viewpoint. 0% is new moon (fully dark), 50% is a quarter phase (half lit), 100% is full moon.
Why does the moon look different each night?
Because the moon's orbital position relative to Earth and the Sun changes daily, the angle at which sunlight strikes the moon changes, illuminating a different portion.
Can I see the moon during the day?
Yes — the moon is above the horizon roughly half the time, meaning there is often daytime overlap. Crescent and quarter phases show up best in daylight; full moons typically rise around sunset.
How accurate are these calculations?
We use standard astronomical formulas (Jean Meeus) computed entirely in your browser. Position accuracy is within about 1° and phase timing within a few minutes.
Is my location stored?
No. Your GPS coordinates are computed locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.