The Moon Cycle: Where to See the Moon in the Sky

During the two weeks from New Moon until Full Moon, the moon will be in the sky right at sunset,
and easy to see. After that, for the next two weeks, as it keeps rising later and later, it is in the night sky very late. It is also visible during the day a good part of the time. Now, let’s go through the phases week by week.

Let’s start with Dark Moon. Dark Moon doesn’t get a lot of attention, because you can’t see it at all. When the moon is “dark,” it is so near the sun, from our perspective, that if we tried to see it, we’d be looking almost right at the sun. Dark moon sets when the sun sets and rises when the sun rises. 

We could not see the part of the moon that the sun is shining on, anyway, since it is facing away from earth. As the moon moves away from the sun again, a little more each night, we are able to see the edge of the bright side; this lovely sliver in the evening sky is the New Moon.

New Moon sets soon after the sun sets. We see it briefly in the evening sky, after the sun has set. Soon, the moon sets also. It will then follow the sun around the sky, and rise soon after the sun rises. New Moon is in the sky during the day, but with the sun so close to the moon, we really can’t see it.

First Quarter Moon has moved farther away from the sun. Halfway, in fact, so that as the sun sets, the moon is straight overhead. It will be in the sky for the first half of the night before it also sets. It rises around noon, which brings it overhead by the time the sun sets. It is far enough from the sun now, that we can see it, if we know where to look.

As Full Moon approaches, it has moved to the opposite side of the earth from the sun. So, Full Moon will always rise at sunset. Then, if you get up early enough the next morning, before sunrise, you can see the Full Moon setting as the sun rises! This is so beautiful, and such a surprise if you’re not expecting it.***

After Full Moon, as the moon moves back toward the other side of the earth, there will be another Quarter Moon. This waning Quarter Moon will rise very late and be in the sky for the last half of the night. It will be directly overhead when the sun rises, so it will be in the daytime sky in the morning hours.

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