If you’re stepping outside tonight hoping to catch a massive glowing orb peeking over the horizon, I’ve got some news. It might not happen. Depending on exactly where you are standing on this spinning rock, the moon might be playing hide and seek.
Honestly, most people think the moon just "comes out" when the sun goes down. It doesn’t. The moon is a bit of a rebel. It follows its own schedule, which shifts by about 50 minutes every single day. Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we are hitting a specific point in the lunar cycle that makes the moonrise today particularly elusive for casual backyard observers.
What Time Is the Moonrise Today?
For those in the Chicago area or nearby suburbs like Riverside, Illinois, the moon is basically invisible today. Why? Because it’s a New Moon.
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Specifically, the New Moon officially occurs at 1:51 PM Central Standard Time. During this phase, the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. This means the side of the moon being lit up by the sun is facing away from us. It also means the moon rises and sets almost exactly when the sun does.
Today’s Vital Stats (Central Standard Time)
- Moonrise: 7:22 AM
- Moonset: 7:10 PM
- Illumination: 0.1% to 2% (Basically a ghost)
- Next Phase: First Quarter on January 25
If you are looking for it at 8:00 PM tonight, you're looking at an empty sky. It’s already started its descent toward the western horizon. You’ve probably missed it if you were waiting for darkness.
Why the Timing Is So Weird
The moon doesn't care about our 24-hour clocks. It takes about 27.3 days to orbit the Earth, but because the Earth is also moving around the Sun, it actually takes 29.5 days to go from one New Moon to the next.
This creates a lag.
Every day, the Earth has to spin just a little bit further—about 13 degrees—to catch up to where the moon moved in its orbit. That extra rotation takes roughly 50 minutes. So, if the moon rose at 6:30 AM yesterday, it's going to wait until roughly 7:20 AM today.
It’s Not Just a Simple Math Problem
You’d think you could just add 50 minutes to yesterday’s time and call it a day. Nope. I wish it were that easy.
The moon’s orbit isn't a perfect circle; it’s an ellipse. Sometimes it’s closer (perigee), and sometimes it’s further away (apogee). When it's closer, it moves faster. Kepler’s Second Law actually explains this: an object in orbit sweeps out equal areas in equal times. Basically, it speeds up when it’s near us.
Then there’s your latitude. If you’re in Miami, the moonrise shift might be 35 minutes. If you’re up in Seattle or London, that gap can stretch to over an hour. Today, since we are in the dead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the moon is following a very specific path across the sky.
The "New Moon" Problem
Today is the "New Moon" day. This is the one time in the month when the moon is up all day and down all night.
If you're an astrophotographer, today is your favorite day. Not because you want to see the moon, but because you want it out of the way. With 0% illumination, the sky is as dark as it gets. This is the prime time to find the Andromeda Galaxy or take long-exposure shots of the Milky Way without that "lunar light pollution" ruining your contrast.
But for the average person who just wants a romantic moonlit stroll? Today is a total bust.
Can You See Anything at All?
If you have a high-powered telescope and a lot of patience, you might catch a tiny sliver of a crescent right before the sun sets. But honestly, it’s mostly lost in the sun's glare.
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How to Track It Moving Forward
If you want to catch a "good" moonrise—the kind that looks orange and huge on the horizon—you need to wait for the Full Moon. In 2026, our next big one is the Full Snow Moon on February 1.
On that day, the moon will rise almost exactly as the sun sets. That’s because they are 180 degrees apart in the sky.
Actionable Tips for Moon Gazing
- Check the Azimuth: Don't just look "East." Today, the moon rose at an azimuth of about 98° (East-Southeast). By the time it sets, it’ll be at 266°.
- Use an App: I personally use Stellarium or The Photographer's Ephemeris. They account for the hills and buildings in your specific "true" horizon.
- Watch the "Golden Hour": Even if the moon isn't visible, the gravity of the New Moon still affects the tides. Expect higher "spring tides" around today and tomorrow.
The moon is up there right now, hidden by the blue of the atmosphere. It’ll be back in view in a couple of days as a tiny, beautiful Waxing Crescent. For now, enjoy the stars while the moon stays out of the spotlight.
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To get the most out of the dark sky tonight, find a spot at least 30 miles away from city lights and look toward the constellation Orion. Since the moonrise today happened so early, you have a perfectly dark window from 7:30 PM until dawn to see deep-space objects that are usually washed out.