How accurate are the moonrise and moonset times?
Our calculations are based on established astronomical algorithms and are accurate to within a few minutes. We account for atmospheric refraction and the moon's apparent size.
What time zone are the times returned in?
All times are returned in UTC (ISO 8601 format). Convert to local time using the timezone offset for your location, or use our World Time API to get the local timezone.
Can I get moonrise/moonset for a specific date?
Yes! Pass the optional date parameter in MM-DD-YYYY format to get times for any date. If not specified, we return today's times.
Why does moonrise time change so much day to day?
The moon rises about 50 minutes later each day on average because it orbits Earth in the same direction Earth rotates. Over a lunar month (~29.5 days), the moonrise time cycles through all 24 hours.
What happens when there is no moonrise or moonset?
On some days, the moon may not rise or not set at a given location. This is especially common near the poles or during certain moon phases. We return null for the missing event and include moonAlwaysUp or moonAlwaysDown flags to indicate continuous visibility.
Do you provide moon phase data?
Yes! Each response includes the current moon phase name (e.g., Waning Crescent, Full Moon). For detailed phase data like illumination percentage and lunar age, use our Moon Phases API.
Is this useful for fishing?
Absolutely. Many anglers use moonrise/moonset times combined with moon phase data to predict peak fish activity. The Solunar Theory suggests fish are most active during moonrise, moonset, and when the moon is overhead.
Can I use this for astrophotography?
Yes! Knowing moonrise/moonset times is essential for planning dark sky photography (when you want no moon) or moon photography (when you need the moon visible). Combine with moon phase data to plan for optimal conditions.
