What Time Does the Moon Rise and Set Tonight?
Updated May 24, 2026 · MoonlightPhase
Quick Answer
The moon rises roughly 50 minutes later each night as it moves through its orbit. During a Full Moon it rises near sunset; during a New Moon it rises with the sun and is invisible. Use our Moon Rise & Set calculator for exact moonrise and moonset times for your location tonight.
Why the Moon Rises at Different Times Each Night
Earth completes one rotation every 24 hours, which sweeps the moon from east to west across the sky. But during those 24 hours, the moon has also moved about 13 degrees eastward along its orbit around Earth. Earth must rotate an additional 50 minutes to bring the moon back to the same position in the sky — which is why moonrise shifts roughly 50 minutes later each night.
This 50-minute daily shift means that over the course of a month, the moon's rise time cycles through all hours of the day and night. During some phases, the moon rises in daytime; during others, in the middle of the night.
How Moon Phase Tells You When the Moon Rises
Each moon phase corresponds to a predictable rise and set time. Knowing the current phase tells you roughly when and where to look:
- New Moon — rises with the sun at dawn, sets at sunset; invisible in daylight
- Waxing Crescent — rises mid-morning, sets shortly after sunset; visible in the west at dusk
- First Quarter — rises around noon, sets near midnight; highest in the south at sunset
- Waxing Gibbous — rises in the afternoon, sets in the early morning hours
- Full Moon — rises near sunset, sets near sunrise; visible all night
- Waning Gibbous — rises after sunset, sets in the late morning
- Last Quarter — rises near midnight, sets near noon; visible in the morning sky
- Waning Crescent — rises a few hours before sunrise; visible in the pre-dawn eastern sky
What Direction Does the Moon Rise From?
The moon always rises in the east and sets in the west — due to Earth's west-to-east rotation. However, the exact compass bearing shifts throughout the year. Near the solstices, the moon can rise noticeably north or south of due east, similar to how the sun's sunrise point shifts with the seasons.
Near the Full Moon closest to the summer solstice, the moon rises in the southeast in the Northern Hemisphere. Near the winter solstice Full Moon, it rises in the northeast. Our Moon Rise & Set tool shows the exact compass bearing for your location.
The Moon Illusion: Why the Moon Looks Huge on the Horizon
A moonrise is often the most dramatic time to observe the moon — especially around the Full Moon, when it appears enormous near the horizon. This is the "Moon Illusion," one of the most reliable optical illusions in nature.
The moon's actual size doesn't change — it's the same 3,474 km diameter whether it's on the horizon or high in the sky. But surrounding reference points (buildings, trees, distant hills) create context that makes our brains perceive the low moon as much larger than when it floats alone in the open sky. Photographs confirm the moon is the same angular size at both positions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the moon rise tonight?
Moonrise times vary daily by location. Use our Moon Rise & Set calculator to get the exact moonrise and moonset times for your specific location tonight.
Why does the moon rise at a different time every night?
The moon rises roughly 50 minutes later each night because it moves about 13 degrees eastward in its orbit each day. Earth needs an extra 50 minutes of rotation to bring the moon back into view.
Does the moon rise every night?
Yes — the moon rises every day, though during New Moon it rises with the sun in daytime and is invisible. The moon is always somewhere in the sky; the question is whether it's above your horizon and during a dark enough time to see it.
What direction does the moon rise from?
The moon always rises in the east (slightly north or south of due east depending on the time of year) and sets in the west, due to Earth's rotation.
Why does the moon look so big near the horizon?
The "Moon Illusion" makes the moon appear much larger near the horizon. It's an optical illusion caused by surrounding reference objects (buildings, trees, hills) that trick the brain into perceiving the low moon as disproportionately large. The moon's actual angular size is identical at the horizon and at zenith.
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