What is the moon phase tonight in Cape Town?

Tonight's moon phase for Cape Town is displayed in real time on MoonSync. The page loads with Cape Town's coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°) and shows the current moon illumination percentage, lunar age (days since new moon), moonrise and moonset times, and the moon's position above Cape Town's horizon. All calculations run client-side — no location data is sent anywhere.

When is the next full moon visible from Cape Town?

MoonSync's lunar calendar shows the full moon phase progression for any date and location, including Cape Town. Full moons occur approximately every 29.53 days. At -33.9° latitude, full moons near the winter solstice rise at their highest point in Cape Town's sky, while full moons near the summer solstice stay lower on the horizon — this seasonal variation is why winter full moons appear more dramatic from Cape Town.

How does the moon's phase affect stargazing in Cape Town?

Moon phase is the single most important factor for stargazing quality at Cape Town. A full moon (100% illumination) brightens the sky enough to obscure all but the brightest stars and makes deep-sky observation nearly impossible. For the best stargazing in Cape Town, plan sessions during the 7 days around New Moon when illumination is below 15%. Use MoonSync to find the next New Moon date, then use the Twilight Calculator to check when astronomical darkness begins.

Why does moonrise time change each day in Cape Town?

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Cape Town because the moon orbits Earth at about 1 km/s, moving approximately 13° eastward per day against the background stars. Since Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours (15°/hour), the extra 13° of rotation takes roughly 50 minutes. This daily delay explains why the moon is sometimes visible in Cape Town's daytime sky and why moonrise can occur at any hour of the day or night.

Moon data for Cape Town

Moon Phase & Moonrise Times Cape Town — MoonSync · FastTool

How Moon Phases Work at Cape Town's Latitude

Moon Phases Visible from Cape Town

From Cape Town at latitude -33.9°, the moon's appearance follows the same 29.53-day synodic cycle visible worldwide — all 8 phases from New Moon through Full Moon and back. However, Cape Town's mid-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 84.7° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 27.5° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Cape Town's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

NASA Moon Phase Reference

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Cape Town

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Cape Town. This daily delay occurs because the moon orbits Earth eastward at about 1 km/s, moving roughly 13° per day against the background stars. At Cape Town's latitude (-33.9°), the moon's rise and set positions along the horizon shift seasonally — rising further north in summer and further south in winter. MoonSync calculates exact moonrise and moonset times for Cape Town using real-time ephemeris data.

USNO Moonrise Data

Moon Illumination & Cape Town's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Cape Town, moon illumination percentage is the critical number. A Full Moon (100% illuminated) washes out all but the brightest stars and makes deep-sky observation nearly impossible. The 7 days around New Moon (0-15% illumination) provide the best dark-sky window. At -33.9° latitude, combine moon phase with the Twilight Calculator to find nights when both astronomical darkness and minimal moonlight coincide — these 'astrophotographer's golden hours' occur roughly once per month at Cape Town.

IAU — Observing Conditions

Lunar Data Accuracy for Cape Town

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Cape Town using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Cape Town's precise coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°) and corrected for atmospheric refraction. The Keplerian orbital model used achieves timing accuracy of approximately ±30 minutes over a synodic month. For sub-minute lunar event timing, consult the USNO Phases of the Moon data service.

USNO Phases of the Moon

52%

Illumination

10:52

Moonrise

23:51

Moonset

Good

Photo Window

MoonSync

مون سينك — ساعة قمرية ومحدد المواقع

التوقيت القمري المنسق ومحدد المواقع السيلينوغرافية

Showing example data: Apollo 11 — Tranquility Base. Click the map or choose a preset to view your site.

التوقيت القمري (LTC)

توقيت القمر المنسق

2026-06-22 04:30:28.611 LTC

UTC الأرضي

2026-06-22 04:30:28.070 UTC

Accumulated drift since page load

+0.000000 μs ahead of Earth

Lunar Calendar

Moon Phaseهلال متزايد

Days since new moon6.77 / 29.53

Cycle Progress22.9%

🌑 New🌕 Full🌑 New

خريطة المواقع القمرية

عرض: +0.7° طول: +23.5°

Click anywhere on the map to select a lunar site

Preset Sites

إضاءة القمر

52.5%

الطور: هلال متزايد

LIVE

Observer Location

عرض

طول

الشروق

10:52 ص

الغروب

11:51 م

Moon is below the horizon

حالة الإضاءة

Lighting State

Lunar Night

Until next sunrise

2d 13h

Solar Position

Altitude

-30.9°

Azimuth

Below horizon

Earth–Moon Distance

371,746kmLIVE

Earth Phase (from Moon)

Earth illumination

56.5%

Earth's illuminated fraction as seen from this lunar site.

Phase

Last Quarter Earth

Environmental Insights

Surface Temperature Estimate

-173.1°C

Based on Stefan-Boltzmann solar angle model. Range: −173°C to +127°C.

Solar Panel Output

Panel area (m²):

0 W

Solar constant: 1,361 W/m²

Shadow Length (1 m object)

No shadow — nightside

بطاقة المقيم القمري

Coordinates

0.67°N, 23.47°E

LTC Timestamp

2026-06-22 04:30:28.611 LTC

Lighting

🌑 Lunar Night

Surface Temp.

-173.1°C

Badge

⚑ Lunar Archaeologist

Issued by MoonSync · fastool.io

Badge

Lunar Archaeologist

Solar Position & Twilight Calculator — Solar InsightCalculate solar altitude, azimuth, golden hour, and civil/nautical/astronomical twilight for any location on Earth.fastool.io Sidereal Time Calculator for AstronomersConvert between local sidereal time and UTC for telescope alignment and observation planning.fastool.io

How MoonSync Works

What Is Lunar Coordinated Time (LTC)?

LTC is a proposed Moon-based time standard. NASA's 2023 analysis found that Moon clocks gain +56.02 µs per Earth day: weaker lunar gravity causes a gravitational blueshift that outweighs the transverse Doppler redshift from lower orbital velocity. MoonSync accumulates this offset from J2000.0 (Jan 1, 2000 12:00 UTC).

NASA — What Time Is It on the Moon?

How Is Moon Illumination Percentage Calculated?

Moon illumination from Earth is the fraction of the Moon's visible disk lit by the Sun. At New Moon (0%), the Moon is between Earth and Sun, showing only its dark side. At Full Moon (100%), Earth is between Moon and Sun. The percentage follows a smooth sinusoidal curve over the 29.53-day synodic month. MoonSync calculates this in real-time using solar and lunar ephemeris data.

USNO — Moon Illumination Data

What Is a Permanent Shadow Region (PSR)?

PSRs are craters near the lunar poles never exposed to direct sunlight, due to the Moon's low axial tilt (1.54°). Temperatures hover around −230 °C, cold enough to trap water ice for billions of years. NASA's LCROSS mission (2009) confirmed water ice deposits in Cabeus crater near the south pole, making PSRs prime candidates for future lunar bases.

NASA Science — Permanently Shadowed Craters

How Is Earth–Moon Distance Calculated?

MoonSync uses a first-order Keplerian ellipse: r = a(1 − e·cos M), where a = 384,399 km (semi-major axis), e = 0.0549 (eccentricity), and M is the mean anomaly from perigee. Accuracy is ±3,000 km. For navigation-grade ephemerides, NASA/JPL's Horizons system integrates the full DE440 planetary solution.

JPL Horizons — Lunar Ephemeris

الأسئلة الشائعة

What is Lunar Coordinated Time (LTC)?: LTC is a proposed Moon-based time standard. Because lunar gravity is weaker (gravitational blueshift) and the Moon's orbital speed is lower (transverse Doppler redshift), Moon clocks run approximately +56.02 µs faster per Earth day than Earth clocks. MoonSync cumulates this offset from J2000.0 (Jan 1, 2000, 12:00 UTC) to display the total LTC lead over UTC at any moment.
Why is the lunar surface temperature so extreme?: The Moon has no atmosphere to distribute or retain heat. In direct sunlight, temperatures reach +127 °C (400 K) at the sub-solar point; on the nightside they fall to −173 °C (100 K) — a 300 °C swing driven purely by the presence or absence of solar radiation. MoonSync estimates temperature using the Stefan–Boltzmann model: T (K) = 400 · sin(altitude)^0.25.
What is a Permanent Shadow Region (PSR)?: PSRs are polar craters on the Moon that have never received direct sunlight, due to the Moon's low axial tilt (1.54°). Temperatures can fall to −230 °C — cold enough to preserve water ice for billions of years. NASA's LCROSS mission (2009) confirmed water ice at the lunar south pole. MoonSync classifies any polar site (|lat| ≥ 87°) with negative solar altitude as a PSR.
How accurate are MoonSync's calculations?: MoonSync uses simplified Keplerian orbital elements and geometric optics suitable for education and illustration — not for navigation. Earth–Moon distance accuracy is ±3,000 km; LTC offset uses NASA's 2023 value of +56.0205 µs/day; phase timing drifts ≈±30 min over a synodic month. For navigation-grade results, consult JPL Horizons or USNO data.
When will the moon rise and set at my location?: MoonSync calculates moonrise and moonset times using your browser's location (or manually entered coordinates). The Moon rises roughly 50 minutes later each day due to its eastward orbital motion. Moonrise/moonset times depend on your latitude, the Moon's declination, and the current lunar phase. MoonSync uses real-time ephemeris data to compute accurate rise/set times and shows whether the Moon is currently above or below your horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moon Data in Cape Town

What is the moon phase tonight in Cape Town?: Tonight's moon phase for Cape Town is displayed in real time on MoonSync. The page loads with Cape Town's coordinates (-33.9°, 18.4°) and shows the current moon illumination percentage, lunar age (days since new moon), moonrise and moonset times, and the moon's position above Cape Town's horizon. All calculations run client-side — no location data is sent anywhere.
When is the next full moon visible from Cape Town?: MoonSync's lunar calendar shows the full moon phase progression for any date and location, including Cape Town. Full moons occur approximately every 29.53 days. At -33.9° latitude, full moons near the winter solstice rise at their highest point in Cape Town's sky, while full moons near the summer solstice stay lower on the horizon — this seasonal variation is why winter full moons appear more dramatic from Cape Town.
How does the moon's phase affect stargazing in Cape Town?: Moon phase is the single most important factor for stargazing quality at Cape Town. A full moon (100% illumination) brightens the sky enough to obscure all but the brightest stars and makes deep-sky observation nearly impossible. For the best stargazing in Cape Town, plan sessions during the 7 days around New Moon when illumination is below 15%. Use MoonSync to find the next New Moon date, then use the Twilight Calculator to check when astronomical darkness begins.
Why does moonrise time change each day in Cape Town?: The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Cape Town because the moon orbits Earth at about 1 km/s, moving approximately 13° eastward per day against the background stars. Since Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours (15°/hour), the extra 13° of rotation takes roughly 50 minutes. This daily delay explains why the moon is sometimes visible in Cape Town's daytime sky and why moonrise can occur at any hour of the day or night.

30-Day Observation Planner

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Twilight End	Moon Illum.	Dark Window
Jun 22Today	05:52	15:46	16:45	56%	12h 8m
Jun 23	05:52	15:46	16:45	66%	12h 8m
Jun 24	05:53	15:46	16:45	75%	12h 8m
Jun 25	05:53	15:46	16:45	83%	12h 8m
Jun 26	05:53	15:47	16:46	89%	12h 8m
Jun 27	05:53	15:47	16:46	94%	12h 8m
Jun 28	05:53	15:47	16:46	98%	12h 8m
Jun 29	05:53	15:48	16:47	100%	12h 7m
Jun 30	05:53	15:48	16:47	100%	12h 7m
Jul 1	05:53	15:49	16:47	98%	12h 7m
Jul 2	05:53	15:49	16:48	94%	12h 6m
Jul 3	05:53	15:49	16:48	89%	12h 6m
Jul 4	05:53	15:50	16:49	82%	12h 6m
Jul 5	05:53	15:50	16:49	73%	12h 5m
Jul 6	05:52	15:51	16:49	63%	12h 5m
Jul 7	05:52	15:51	16:50	52%	12h 4m
Jul 8	05:52	15:52	16:50	41%	12h 3m
Jul 9	05:52	15:52	16:51	30%	12h 3m
Jul 10	05:52	15:53	16:51	20%	12h 2m
Jul 11	05:51	15:53	16:52	11%	12h 1m
Jul 12	05:51	15:54	16:52	5%	12h 1m
Jul 13	05:51	15:54	16:53	1%	11h 60m
Jul 14	05:50	15:55	16:53	0%	11h 59m
Jul 15	05:50	15:56	16:54	2%	11h 58m
Jul 16	05:50	15:56	16:54	6%	11h 57m
Jul 17	05:49	15:57	16:55	13%	11h 57m
Jul 18	05:49	15:57	16:55	21%	11h 56m
Jul 19	05:48	15:58	16:56	30%	11h 55m
Jul 20	05:48	15:59	16:56	40%	11h 54m
Jul 21	05:47	15:59	16:57	50%	11h 53m