Moon · Sydney
Moon in Sydney
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 Sydney - next 14 days
| Date | Phase | Illum. | Moonrise | Moonset | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 9Today | Waning Crescent | 18% | 3:31 AM | 1:06 PM | 8:19 AM · 28° |
| Mon, Aug 10 | Waning Crescent | 10% | 4:34 AM | 2:16 PM | 9:24 AM · 29° |
| Tue, Aug 11 | Waning Crescent | 4% | 5:28 AM | 3:31 PM | 10:27 AM · 32° |
| Wed, Aug 12 | New | 1% | 6:12 AM | 4:45 PM | 11:25 AM · 37° |
| Thu, Aug 13 | New | 0% | 6:50 AM | 5:57 PM | 12:19 PM · 43° |
| Fri, Aug 14 | New | 2% | 7:21 AM | 7:05 PM | 1:09 PM · 49° |
| Sat, Aug 15 | Waxing Crescent | 7% | 7:50 AM | 8:10 PM | 1:55 PM · 56° |
| Sun, Aug 16 | Waxing Crescent | 14% | 8:17 AM | 9:13 PM | 2:40 PM · 62° |
| Mon, Aug 17 | Waxing Crescent | 22% | 8:45 AM | 10:14 PM | 3:25 PM · 68° |
| Tue, Aug 18 | Waxing Crescent | 31% | 9:13 AM | 11:15 PM | 4:10 PM · 74° |
| Wed, Aug 19 | First Quarter | 40% | 9:45 AM | - | 4:56 PM · 78° |
| Thu, Aug 20 | First Quarter | 50% | 10:20 AM | 12:16 AM | 5:45 PM · 81° |
| Fri, Aug 21 | First Quarter | 59% | 11:01 AM | 1:16 AM | 6:35 PM · 84° |
| Sat, Aug 22 | First Quarter | 68% | 11:47 AM | 2:13 AM | 7:26 PM · 84° |
Times are local to Sydney. 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 Sydney on Sun, Aug 9
Tonight the moon over Sydney is a Waning Crescent, 18% illuminated. It rises at 3:31 AM, is highest at 8:19 AM, sets at 1:06 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 north at 8:19 AM, peaking 28° 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 Sydney today?
- In Sydney on Sun, Aug 9, moonrise is at 3:31 AM and moonset is at 1:06 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 Sydney?
- On Sun, Aug 9 the moon is a Waning Crescent, 18% illuminated. The next full moon is Fri, Aug 28 and the next new moon is Thu, Aug 13.
- Is tonight a full moon in Sydney?
- No. Tonight the moon is a Waning Crescent at 18% illumination. The next full moon in Sydney is Fri, Aug 28.
- When is the best time to see the moon in Sydney tonight?
- The moon is highest at 8:19 AM, reaching 28° above the horizon toward the north. 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 Sydney right now the shift is about 63 minutes: 3:31 AM today versus 4:34 AM tomorrow.
