Best time to see the Moon in San Francisco tonight
The best time to see the Moon in San Francisco tonight is around 4:35 AM local time, when the waning gibbous Moon, 82% lit, climbs to 41° above the horizon. It rises at 11:05 PM, and with 100% cloud cover in the forecast, viewing conditions look poor tonight.
San Francisco, CA · Friday, July 3 · look south
best window · waning gibbous, 82% lit
Better to wait: it is mostly cloudy and it sits high enough for a clean view.
- Mostly cloudy (100%)
- Well-placed (41° up)
- Best after twilight ends
- Altitude41° · Mid sky
- Moon phase82% lit · waning gibbous
- Cloud cover100% · Overcast
- Sky darknessBortle 9 · Inner-city sky
Look South
It rises at 11:05 PM and reaches 41° above the horizon at its best.
Just look up
Face south after dark. The Moon is unmissable — watch the terminator (the line between light and shadow), where crater shadows are sharpest.
Grab binoculars
Steady 10×50 binoculars reveal the dark maria (the “seas”) and bright crater rays splashing across the surface.
Any telescope shines
Even a small scope shows craters in 3-D relief along the terminator. Try 50–100× and trace the shadow line.
Aim along the terminator — the line where lunar night meets day. The sun sits low there, casting long shadows that make craters stand out in sharp relief. Near the bright limb, look for brilliant rays splashing out of the younger craters.
Ask your kid to find the “rabbit” or a friendly face hiding in the Moon's dark patches.
SKY DARKNESS
Bortle 9Bright inner-city sky — expect only the Moon, planets, and a handful of the very brightest stars. The Moon, planets and the ISS shine right through city glow.
WATCHING WITH
Common questions
Where exactly should I look?
Face south and look about halfway up. The Moon reaches 41° altitude around 4:35 AM from San Francisco, CA.
What's the exact best time?
4:35 AM local time tonight, when the Moon stands highest in a dark sky. It is up from 11:05 PM until it sets at 10:18 AM.
Do I need a telescope?
No — at 82% lit the Moon is a stunning naked-eye sight. Binoculars reveal the dark “seas,” and any small telescope shows craters in dramatic relief along the shadow line.
Will clouds get in the way?
Forecast says 100% cloud cover at the 4:35 AM viewing time (100% average across the night). Tonight looks mostly blocked; the next clear night will be far better.
How bright is the Moon tonight?
Tonight's Moon is a waning gibbous at 82% illumination — bright enough to outshine city lights and cast shadows.
When is the best night to see the Moon this week in San Francisco?
Sunday: 46% cloud forecast at its best time and the 71%-lit Moon climbs to 53°. That's the pick across the next 7 nights from San Francisco.