Moon Azimuth

Moon azimuth defines the moon's horizontal position around the compass, measured in degrees clockwise from true north (0°/360°) through east (90°), south (180°), and west (270°). While moon altitude tells you how high the moon sits above the horizon, moon azimuth tells you which direction it's positioned—essential information for photographers planning moonlit compositions, moonrise/moonset shots, and nightscape orientations. Understanding moon azimuth enables precise compositional planning for night photography. If you're shooting a moonlit landscape and want side-lighting that emphasizes terrain texture, you need to know when the moon's azimuth will position it 90° from your shooting direction. Planning a shot with the moon rising behind a mountain peak or setting over the ocean? You need the moon's azimuth to align with your foreground subject. Want the full moon to appear within a specific arch, doorway, or between buildings? Moon azimuth planning is essential.

The moon's azimuth follows complex patterns driven by its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. Unlike the sun, which rises in the east and sets in the west with seasonal variations, the moon's rise and set azimuths shift dramatically throughout the month. During a full moon, the moon rises roughly when the sun sets and follows a path roughly opposite the sun's daytime track—in the Northern Hemisphere, a summer full moon (when the sun is high and northerly) rises in the southeast and stays relatively low, while a winter full moon (when the sun is low and southerly) rises in the northeast and arcs high across the southern sky. New moons rise and set with the sun, sharing similar azimuths. Quarter moons rise or set at intermediate azimuths, with patterns that shift daily. Beyond monthly variations, the moon's azimuth path varies by latitude: at equatorial regions, the moon can appear from almost any azimuth during its monthly cycle, while at high latitudes, the moon's azimuth range is more constrained, and extreme seasonal variations occur.

For photographers, moon azimuth planning is crucial for iconic moon shots. Coastal photographers need to know when the moon's azimuth will position it setting over water rather than land—at many locations, this only occurs during certain phases and seasons. Urban photographers planning moon-over-skyline compositions need precise azimuth predictions to align the moon with specific buildings or structures. Landscape photographers seeking moonrise over specific peaks or monuments must calculate when moon azimuth intersects with the bearing to that feature. Astrophotographers use moon azimuth to predict where the moon will appear along the horizon and how it will affect their compositions—a full moon at eastern azimuth at the start of night means it will illuminate eastern-facing slopes and potentially create unwanted light pollution in that direction. Advanced techniques like the moon tunnel effect (capturing the moon's reflection in a tunnel or cave facing the correct azimuth), moon-framed compositions (positioning the moon within natural or architectural frames), and planning supermoon shots over specific landmarks all require precise moon azimuth calculations. PhotoWeather tracks moon azimuth in real-time, calculating its exact compass bearing for your location throughout the night. By combining moon azimuth with moon altitude, phase, and weather conditions, you can plan night photography sessions with confidence, knowing exactly where the moon will appear in your composition, from which direction it will illuminate your scene, and when it will align with specific landscape or architectural features for that perfect shot.