Moon · Chicago
Moon in Chicago
A bright, fully-lit disc that works well for landscapes and moonrise shots.
Darkest skies, best for the Milky Way and astrophotography.
Moonrise & moonset in Chicago - next 14 days
| Date | Phase | Illum. | Moonrise | Moonset | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 8Today | Waning Crescent | 22% | 12:41 AM | 5:07 PM | 8:52 AM · 76° |
| Sun, Aug 9 | Waning Crescent | 13% | 1:43 AM | 6:07 PM | 9:57 AM · 76° |
| Mon, Aug 10 | Waning Crescent | 6% | 2:57 AM | 6:55 PM | 11:01 AM · 74° |
| Tue, Aug 11 | New | 2% | 4:17 AM | 7:32 PM | 12:02 PM · 69° |
| Wed, Aug 12 | New | 0% | 5:37 AM | 8:02 PM | 12:57 PM · 64° |
| Thu, Aug 13 | New | 1% | 6:55 AM | 8:27 PM | 1:48 PM · 57° |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Waxing Crescent | 5% | 8:09 AM | 8:49 PM | 2:35 PM · 51° |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Waxing Crescent | 11% | 9:19 AM | 9:11 PM | 3:21 PM · 44° |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Waxing Crescent | 19% | 10:28 AM | 9:32 PM | 4:05 PM · 38° |
| Mon, Aug 17 | Waxing Crescent | 27% | 11:35 AM | 9:56 PM | 4:50 PM · 32° |
| Tue, Aug 18 | First Quarter | 37% | 12:42 PM | 10:22 PM | 5:36 PM · 28° |
| Wed, Aug 19 | First Quarter | 46% | 1:48 PM | 10:54 PM | 6:24 PM · 24° |
| Thu, Aug 20 | First Quarter | 56% | 2:51 PM | 11:32 PM | 7:13 PM · 21° |
| Fri, Aug 21 | First Quarter | 65% | 3:49 PM | - | 8:04 PM · 20° |
Times are local to Chicago. A dash means the event falls on a neighboring calendar day. “Highest” is the moon’s transit - its best viewing moment - with peak altitude above the horizon.
The moon over Chicago on Sat, Aug 8
Tonight the moon over Chicago is a Waning Crescent, 22% illuminated. It rises at 12:41 AM, is highest at 8:52 AM, sets at 5:07 PM, all in local time.
A thinning crescent appears in the east before sunrise. Evenings are effectively moonless and dark - prime time for the Milky Way - while dawn offers a delicate crescent for early shoots.
For direction, the moon climbs highest toward the south at 8:52 AM, peaking 76° above the horizon. Like the sun, it rises on the eastern side of the sky and sets on the western side, with the exact bearing drifting through the month - the table above gives each day’s times so you can plan a specific alignment.
Frequently asked
- What time does the moon rise in Chicago today?
- In Chicago on Sat, Aug 8, moonrise is at 12:41 AM and moonset is at 5:07 PM, local time. Because the moon moves along its orbit each day, both shift roughly 30 to 70 minutes later from one day to the next.
- What phase is the moon tonight in Chicago?
- On Sat, Aug 8 the moon is a Waning Crescent, 22% illuminated. The next full moon is Thu, Aug 27 and the next new moon is Wed, Aug 12.
- Is tonight a full moon in Chicago?
- No. Tonight the moon is a Waning Crescent at 22% illumination. The next full moon in Chicago is Thu, Aug 27.
- When is the best time to see the moon in Chicago tonight?
- The moon is highest at 8:52 AM, reaching 76° above the horizon toward the south. Around that time it clears buildings and haze best.
- Why does the moon rise later each night?
- The moon orbits Earth in about 29.5 days, moving roughly 12° eastward against the sky each day. Earth has to rotate that extra bit before the moon clears the horizon again, which delays moonrise by about 50 minutes on average - less near the equator, more at high latitudes. In Chicago right now the shift is about 62 minutes: 12:41 AM today versus 1:43 AM tomorrow.
