moonrise | EarthSky

Moonrise over Nubble Lighthouse

Just past full, a brilliant moon rises behind the 1874 Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine. Photographer Manish Mamtani captured 2 views.

Anticrepuscular rays at Georgia moonrise

Scott Kuhn captured anticrepuscular rays as the moon was rising over Fort Mountain in northern Georgia.

Moonrise over the Tetons

The Tetons are part of the Rocky Mountains in North America - mostly in Wyoming - south of Yellowstone National Park.

Moonrise over Arctic Ocean

A psychedelic moon rising over the Arctic Ocean, created by a strong temperature inversion.

Moonrise at MMT Observatory

Monday's full moonrise at MMT, part of Whipple Observatory - located on Mount Hopkins, Arizona, - 34 miles (55 km) south of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Moonrise over Gunnison

The full Worm Moon rising over Gunnison, Colorado on Thursday night. Photo by Matt Burt.

Omega moonrise, Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

As the moon lifted up, pulling away from the horizon, an omega shape was created. This lower portion of the moon is an inverted mirage of what is directly above it.

Just before moonrise in Gunnison, Colorado

Matt Burt took this photo last week. What can we say about it? Except ... we all wish we lived there.

Moonrise in Yosemite National Park

EarthSky Facebook friend Manish Mamtani Photography contributed this photo of the moon rising over Yosemite National Park.

Last night’s moonrise over Tehachapi

The full moon is February 25, 2013 as seen from much of the world. But the moon looks full for a day or so on either side of full.

Giant full moon, partly shadowed, rising with silhouetted tree and 2 tiny people in foreground.

Looking for sky almanacs? EarthSky recommends …

Here are some almanacs that show you the rising and setting times for the sun, moon, planets and satellites in your sky.

Sun barely peeking over forested horizon under bronze sky, reflected in foreground lake.

Are day and night equal on the equinox? Not exactly

Are day and night equal at an equinox? No. Earth's atmosphere and our sun team up to give us more day than night during an equinox.

Total lunar eclipse March 2-3: Last one for 3 years!

Overnight on March 2-3, 2026, there will be a total lunar eclipse of the full Blood Moon. Where will it be visible? See animations, charts and details here.

A full moon that looks reddish at the bottom right, orange at the bottom left, and white at the top.

Lunar eclipse: Tips for watching and enjoying

A total lunar eclipse is coming up overnight on March 2-3, 2026. Here are some tips for watching and enjoying the total lunar eclipse.

One large, red moon, and a line of smaller moons showing the phases of the eclipse.

A total lunar eclipse looks red. Why?

Coming up ... the total lunar eclipse of March 2-3, 2026. At maximum eclipse, the moon will look red. But why? Earth's atmosphere is the key.

Huge pale yellow moon, mostly above the horizon, in light purple sky beyond a dark hill with tall cactuses.

Full moon names of the month and by the season

Lists of common full moon names - both by month and by season - for North America. And a word about full moon names in the Southern Hemisphere.

Close-up of the Super Harvest Moon on October 7, 2025.

What is a full moon? All you need to know

The full moon, opposite the sun in its orbit, shows us its sunlit side. The moon appears full a couple of days before and after the exact moment of full moon.

Half of the moon - the left side - is crisply illuminated against a dark sky.

What is a last quarter moon?

The last quarter moon appears a week after full moon and a week before new moon. The moon appears half-lit, like half a pie.

A waxing gibbous moon against a dark sky.

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

A waxing gibbous moon is in the sky before it's dark and lights up the early evening. It's more than half lighted, but not quite full. It sets after midnight.

Animation showing the orbit of the moon around Earth, and - if you imagine yourself on the Earth - the changing phases of the moon.

4 keys to understanding moon phases

As the moon circles Earth, we see different fractions of its lighted face: the changing moon phases. Here are 4 tips for understanding them.

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Moonrise over Nubble Lighthouse

Anticrepuscular rays at Georgia moonrise

Moonrise over the Tetons

Moonrise over Arctic Ocean

Moonrise at MMT Observatory

Moonrise over Gunnison

Omega moonrise, Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

Just before moonrise in Gunnison, Colorado

Moonrise in Yosemite National Park

Last night’s moonrise over Tehachapi

Looking for sky almanacs? EarthSky recommends …

Are day and night equal on the equinox? Not exactly

Total lunar eclipse March 2-3: Last one for 3 years!

Lunar eclipse: Tips for watching and enjoying

A total lunar eclipse looks red. Why?

Full moon names of the month and by the season

What is a full moon? All you need to know

What is a last quarter moon?

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

4 keys to understanding moon phases