Moon Phases Visible from Seoul

From Seoul at latitude 37.6°, 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, Seoul's mid-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 81.0° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 23.8° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Seoul's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

Das Gwacheon National Science Museum in Seoul betreibt das größte öffentliche astronomische Observatorium Südkoreas mit einem 1-Meter-Spiegelteleskop und einer speziellen Sonnenbeobachtungsplattform. Das Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) im nahen Daejeon ist ein wichtiger Beitragender zum GMT (Giant Magellan Telescope)-Projekt, und Seouls Amateurastronomie-Clubs zählen über 50 — eine der höchsten Dichten in Asien.

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Seoul

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Seoul. 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 Seoul's latitude (37.6°), 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 Seoul using real-time ephemeris data.

Auf 37,6°N erstreckt sich Seouls Mittsommer-Tageslicht auf 14 Stunden und 45 Minuten unter einem feuchtkontinentalen Klima. Der dramatische saisonale Kontrast der Stadt — von −5°C in Januarnächten bis 30°C an Julitagen — spiegelt den markanten Gegensatz zwischen Seouls hochmoderner Skyline und seinem von Bergen umgebenen natürlichen Becken wider, wo die Sonnenbahn einen präzisen Bogen von Bukhansan im Osten bis Gwanaksan im Westen zieht.

Moon Illumination & Seoul's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Seoul, 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 37.6° 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 Seoul.

Lunar Data Accuracy for Seoul

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Seoul using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Seoul's precise coordinates (37.6°, 127.0°) 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.