Moon · London
Moon in London
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 London - next 14 days
| Date | Phase | Illum. | Moonrise | Moonset | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 9Today | Waning Crescent | 15% | 12:41 AM | 6:57 PM | 9:52 AM · 67° |
| Mon, Aug 10 | Waning Crescent | 7% | 1:55 AM | 7:40 PM | 10:56 AM · 65° |
| Tue, Aug 11 | New | 2% | 3:24 AM | 8:09 PM | 11:57 AM · 61° |
| Wed, Aug 12 | New | 0% | 4:56 AM | 8:29 PM | 12:54 PM · 56° |
| Thu, Aug 13 | New | 1% | 6:26 AM | 8:44 PM | 1:46 PM · 49° |
| Fri, Aug 14 | Waxing Crescent | 4% | 7:52 AM | 8:57 PM | 2:34 PM · 43° |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Waxing Crescent | 9% | 9:14 AM | 9:09 PM | 3:20 PM · 36° |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Waxing Crescent | 17% | 10:33 AM | 9:22 PM | 4:04 PM · 30° |
| Mon, Aug 17 | Waxing Crescent | 25% | 11:50 AM | 9:35 PM | 4:49 PM · 24° |
| Tue, Aug 18 | First Quarter | 34% | 1:07 PM | 9:52 PM | 5:35 PM · 19° |
| Wed, Aug 19 | First Quarter | 44% | 2:23 PM | 10:13 PM | 6:22 PM · 15° |
| Thu, Aug 20 | First Quarter | 53% | 3:35 PM | 10:41 PM | 7:11 PM · 12° |
| Fri, Aug 21 | First Quarter | 63% | 4:41 PM | 11:20 PM | 8:02 PM · 11° |
| Sat, Aug 22 | Waxing Gibbous | 72% | 5:36 PM | - | 8:53 PM · 11° |
Times are local to London. 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 London on Sun, Aug 9
Tonight the moon over London is a Waning Crescent, 15% illuminated. It rises at 12:41 AM, is highest at 9:52 AM, sets at 6:57 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 9:52 AM, peaking 67° 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 London today?
- In London on Sun, Aug 9, moonrise is at 12:41 AM and moonset is at 6:57 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 London?
- On Sun, Aug 9 the moon is a Waning Crescent, 15% illuminated. The next full moon is Fri, Aug 28 and the next new moon is Wed, Aug 12.
- Is tonight a full moon in London?
- No. Tonight the moon is a Waning Crescent at 15% illumination. The next full moon in London is Fri, Aug 28.
- When is the best time to see the moon in London tonight?
- The moon is highest at 9:52 AM, reaching 67° 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 London right now the shift is about 75 minutes: 12:41 AM today versus 1:55 AM tomorrow.
