Tips for Observing the Moon in the Daytime

Observing the moon in the daytime can be a challenge. Finding the moon in the sky is easiest when the moon is at least in a thick crescent phase, and when the sky is totally free from clouds, and the humidity is low. This makes for a nice dark blue sky which contrasts nicely with the moon. However, the weather doesn't always cooperate to this extent. (Sorry we can't help with the weather.)

To increase your chances of success, try these tips:

• Use the resources below to assist you in knowing where and when to look.

• The moon will most likely be smaller than you expect at first.

• Put your hand in front of the sun while you are looking for the moon. If the moon is to the left of the sun in the sky, then use your right hand, and if the moon is to the right of the sun, use your left.

• If the sky is partly cloudy, keep watching in the part of the sky where you expect to find the moon. As the clouds pass by, you'll be able to see the moon intermittently.

• To find a thin crescent moon, try moving just into a shadow. Make sure that the correct part of the sky is still visible. Sometimes an overhang at the entrance of a building, or a corner of a building works well.

Note: Check out this document for helping students understand what causes moon phases.

Moon Observation Resources

Our Calendar

We've created a Google Calendar with information to help you decide when to make day-time moon observations. It was made for Bremerton, Washington, and will apply to schools on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

Generally speaking:

• A couple of days before and a couple of days after both the New Moon and the Full Moon, the Moon is NOT VISIBLE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY (roughly 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM)

• A couple of days before and a couple of days after the Third Quarter (Last Quarter) Moon, the Moon will be visible in the early half of the school day.

• A couple of days before and a couple of days after the First Quarter, the moon will be visible in the second half of the day.

• The calendar below tells when these key phases of the moon occur. It shows the rise and set times for each day, and if you click on a specific date, it will suggest a time block accounting for the Moon to rise above the horizon.

TimeAndDate.com's Moonrise Calculator:

This site allows you to set your location, and then you can view the current month's data, or set it to a time in the future. It gives you the rise and set times for the Moon for each day. It also tells you how much of the side facing us will be lit (illumination%). Then, if you click on one of the days, you can see a graphic of the Moon's direction and altitude throughout the day. As you move your cursor along the curved line, it will give you specific information about that time of day (altitude and direction for the moon). [see graphic below] The number you see with the degree symbol is the azimuth. Azimuth is the compass direction expressed in degrees, with north being 0°, east is 90°, south is 180°, and west is 270°.

Below is a screenshot from TimeAndDate.com's Moonrise Calculator: