Daytime moon in April 2026
When to see: As the full moon falls on April 2, 2026, the moon will be visible during the day from April 3 to 9, 2026, when it is in the waning gibbous phase.
Where to look: Look for it in the western sky after sunrise. It will appear higher in the western sky on consecutive days, as the moon rises and sets an average of 50 minutes later each day.
Why is the moon sometimes visible during the day?
Each month, the moon spends as much time in the daytime sky as it does in the night sky.
However, there are certain windows of each month when sunlight reflected from the moon is bright enough to be noticeable against the daytime blue sky.
A full moon is bright enough, but it is not visible in the daytime, as it rises around sunset and sets around sunrise.
For a few days before a full moon – during the waxing gibbous phase – the moon rises before sunset and sets before sunrise. It is bright enough to be visible in the eastern sky in the afternoon.
Similarly, for a few days after a full moon – during the waning gibbous phase – the moon rises after sunset and sets after sunrise. It is bright enough to be visible in the western sky in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new moon be visible during the day?
A new moon rises and sets with the sun. So it is up in the sky throughout the day. However, a new moon is not visible in the daytime because the side of the moon that faces Earth gets no sunlight.
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