Moon Phases Visible from Tokio

From Tokio at latitude 35.7°, 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, Tokio's mid-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 82.9° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 25.7° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Tokio's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

Nur 60 km westlich der Skyline Tokios bietet die Okutama-Region Bortle-3-4-Himmel, an dem die Milchstraße in klaren Nächten mit bloßem Auge sichtbar ist. Diese Nähe zu echtem Dunkelhimmel in einem der größten Ballungsräume der Welt ist äußerst selten — aktiv gefördert durch den NAOJ-Campus in Mitaka mit öffentlichen Sternbeobachtungsprogrammen.

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Tokio

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Tokio. 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 Tokio's latitude (35.7°), 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 Tokio using real-time ephemeris data.

Das Nationale Astronomische Observatorium Japans in Mitaka, Tokio, verfolgt Himmelsobjekte seit 1878 und ist damit eine der ältesten kontinuierlich betriebenen astronomischen Einrichtungen Asiens. Sein 20-cm-Refraktor entdeckte 1918 den Asteroiden 'Tokyo', und sein Sonnenturm-Teleskop überwacht noch heute täglich die Sonnenfleckenaktivität — mitten in der Metropole.

Moon Illumination & Tokio's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Tokio, 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 35.7° 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 Tokio.

Lunar Data Accuracy for Tokio

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Tokio using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Tokio's precise coordinates (35.7°, 139.7°) 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.