February 24, 2026 - If you think about it, without the Moon appearing during the day, we wouldn't have solar eclipses, because these events rely on the Moon being visible in the sky at the same time as the Sun. Below we'll reveal the mechanics of the lunar orbit and how you can spot the Moon during the day. And for more on what to see before nightfall, read Lucie Green's guide to daytime astronomy.

September 25, 2025 - So, the whole moon is always there. Whether we can see it or not depends on where it is in its orbit and where we are on Earth. We can only see some or all the moon when it’s in the right part of the sky and reflecting enough light.

May 29, 2024 - We sometimes see the daytime moon for the same reason we see it at night — it is reflecting light from the sun — and its closeness to Earth makes it brighter than the daytime or nighttime sky.

August 12, 2022 - The moon takes 28 days to complete a full orbit of the Earth, so for about 14 days out of that time, it'll be roughly on the same side of the Earth as the sun (and hence visible in the morning) ...

July 27, 2026 - The new moon (when sun and moon are aligned) and the full moon (when they’re opposite) are the only phases that don’t appear in daylight. The two best phases for daytime viewing are the gibbous phases. Waxing gibbous: 7 to 14 days after new moon. Moon is visible in the eastern sky from afternoon to sunset. First quarter (half moon): visible from noon to midnight. The half-illuminated moon is striking against blue afternoon sky. Waning gibbous: 7 to 14 days after full moon. Moon visible in the western sky from sunrise through midmorning.

July 12, 2023 - The only times you won’t be able to see it during the day are near a new Moon, when it is positioned too close to the Sun in the sky to be seen, and near a full Moon, when it rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, so is only visible during the ...

May 9, 2026 - The moon does not produce its own light. Instead, what you are seeing is the sun’s reflection off the lunar surface. This is why, even during the day, the moon is still bright enough to be visible when its position in the sky places it above ...

September 21, 2024 - When the moon is in a full phase, this is when we can sometimes see it during the day.

May 14, 2026 - We see the moon during the day whenever its 12-hour window above the horizon overlaps with the Sun's. That happens for most of the lunar month: only around the new moon, when the Moon is on the same side of Earth as the Sun and almost lost in ...

November 28, 2022 - It has to do with the moon’s position in the sky. As the moon revolves around the Earth, the Earth also revolves around the sun. These revolutions cause the perceived “movements” of the moon and sun that we see in the sky.

February 19, 2022 - The sun’s light and atmosphere play roles in when and how we see our planet’s satellite.

Skip to main content · Eleanor Sayers, Leigh-on-Sea, UK Cos the moon goes around the earth and half the time is closer to the sun than we are. Grab an apple (the earth), a walnut (the moon) and a desk lamp (the sun). Put the apple down near the lamp, the side nearest to it is illuminate (daytime), ...

March 22, 2026 - Wikimedia Commons. When the Moon is close to the Sun in the sky, the Sun is too bright for us to see it. As it moves away from the Sun in the sky each day, we see it emerge as a thin crescent.

October 11, 2023 - We can see the moon during the day for the same reason we see the moon at night. The surface of the moon is reflecting the sun's light into our eyes.

November 25, 2024 - Daytime sightings of the moon create a unique spectacle, with its brightness surpassing the sky due to its proximity to Earth; often visible around full moons, visibility during the day depends on atmospheric conditions, seasons and occasional ...

January 19, 2025 - After all, it's difficult to see even the Sun when it's blowing a gale and stormy clouds roll in. Noble continued: "During a full Moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky. That's why we can see the full face of the Moon reflecting sunlight."